CBI Court dismisses Chandolia's bail plea

Special CBI judge O P Saini today dismissed a plea by former telecom minister A Raja's ex-personal secretary R K Chandolia seeking interim bail on the ground the CBI lacked proper sanction to prosecute him in the 2G spectrum scam.

Chandolia was arrested on 2 February 2011 for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam and named as an accused in the first charge sheet filed by the CBI.

"Your application is dismissed," the judge said, dismissing Chandolia's plea, minutes before he opened his argument opposing corruption and various other penal charges against him in the case.

Chandolia had sought interim bail contending that the CBI did not have the valid sanction from the competent authority under Delhi Special Police Establishment Act to probe the case against him.

Claiming there was no sanction to prosecute him for the offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC Chandolia had sought interim bail till the disposal of his application.

The CBI contended that Raja's former personal secretary's plea was based upon incorrect assertions.

The investigating agency said that in a letter dated 7 December 2010 Satish Bhushan, under secretary (vigilance) in the finance minister, had conveyed the government's permission to initiate inquiry against Chandolia as required under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.