SC order raises bail hope for Kani, others

IANS

New Delhi, 23 November 2011: In the first bail in 2G spectrum scam case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of five top corporate executives from Tihar Jail, in the process raising hopes of other accused including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, both of whom have been in prison for several months.

 

The bail comes as a breather for many 2G accused who have spent sleepless nights behind the bars.

 

The five corporate honchos who got bail today include Unitech Limited MD Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom Director Vinod Goenka, and Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group executives Hari Nair, Gautam Doshi and Surrendra Pipara.

 

Today’s development surely must have sent a signal to the other key accused behind the bars who too have been languishing in jail.

 

Key accused in 2G scam, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, film producer Karim Morani and DMK MP Kanimozhi are reported to have moved the High court for early hearing of their bail plea within hours of the SC granting bail to the corporate executives.

 

The bail plea of Kanimozhi is due to come up for hearing before the Delhi High Court on December 1. Kanimozhi was seen in tears on many occasions after she was repeatedly denied bail in various courts. After spending Diwali behind the bars, the release of these honchos have infused hope that this poet and daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi might not have to spend her new year behind the bars.

 

Other accused in the case include Raja’s private secretary R K Chandolia, who is a suspended IRS officer, and former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura.

 

Others arrested in the case include Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, his cousin Asif Balwa and their colleague Rajeev Agarwal, besides Sharad Kumar and Karim Morani.

 

The CBI had chargesheeted 14 persons and three firms in the scam, with Raja being the first to be arrested on February 2, along with Chandolia and Behura.