2G scam: Raja to remain in jail as court reserves bail order

The Special CBI Court in Delhi trying cases related to the cheap and arbitrary sale of radio spectrum in 2008 today reserved its order on bail plea of former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja till 15 May.

Raja, arrested on 2 February 2011, is the last of the 17 or so people accused in the case to still remain bars. Siddhartha Behura, the telecom secretary under Raja, and his former private secretary R K Chandolia were granted bail about a month ago. All the other accused have also been granted bail by the courts leaving Raja alone in jail for over 15 months.

Raja made his bail plea on Wednesday, soon after the Supreme Court upheld the bail of Behura granted by the special court. The Central Bureau of Investigation today opposed Raja's bail plea before Special CBI Judge O P Saini, saying he could tamper with evidence and witnesses if free.

Raja, in his bail plea, contended that he is "innocent" and the case against him is "false and fabricated". He also argued that all others have been granted bail and he should be given bail on the same ground, as the investigating agency had had enough time to gather evidence and grill him.

"The case against the petitioner (Raja) is false and fabricated and is not sustainable on law or on facts. The petitioner is innocent and is likely to get acquitted,'' his lawyer argued.

"All the individual accused persons in this case, except the petitioner, have been released on bail  ... the petitioner is entitled to bail on the grounds of parity," he had said

However Raja will have to spend at least three more days in Tihar jail, as the judge has reserved his order till them.