2G scam: Raja to begin arguments from Monday

Former Telecom Minister A Raja, arrested for his role in the 2G scam, will begin his arguments on cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy against him on Monday. Special CBI Judge OP Saini said that the arguments on charge for the prosecution heard and concluded is put up for arguments on charge for the accused persons on July 25, 2011. While concluding the arguments, Special Public Prosecutor told the court that going purely by the note on revision of licence fee by Indian Revenue Service officer Manju Madhavan or the Prime Minister's letter, a loss of Rs.30,000 crore has been caused to the public exchequer.  Mr. Lalit stated that besides Raja, others involved were former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura, Mr.Raja's erstwhile aide R K Chandolia and corporate honchos Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka and Sanjay Chandra. Mr. Lalit added that on the basis of the material before the court relating to Swan Telecom and Unitech Telecom, a loss of Rs.7,100 crore has been caused. Mr. Lalit pointed out that Swan Telecom had no other licence except the current spectrum licence and even Unitech Wireless was ineligible for the spectrum. While pressing on all the charges that the CBI has levelled against the accused in the charge sheet, Mr. Lalit argued that charges under section 192 for fabricating false evidence and section 193 for punishment for fabricating false evidence. The CBI had begun its arguments on framing of charges against 17 accused in the case from July 21. Fourteen accused including DMK MP Kanimozhi are presently lodged in Tihar jail. Reported by     AR