2G trial shifts to Tihar Jail from November 24

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Tuesday shifted the trial in the 2G spectrum case to the Tihar Jail complex following a Delhi High Court order. The next hearing would be held in a courtroom in the prison premises November 24.

The announcement was made by CBI Special Judge O.P. Saini who, till now, was hearing the case at Patiala House district court complex in central Delhi.

"The judge has cited security as the reason for proposing to shift the trial, following the attack on former telecom minister Sukh Ram who was indicted in the 1993 telecom scam on November 19," said a lawyer.

From November 24, Judge Saini would conduct the trial in a courtroom in Tihar Jail premises in west Delhi.

The decision to shift the trial came as a surprise to all the 14 arrested individuals, including former telecom minister A. Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, as well as the public prosecutor.

Judge Saini said: "The trial of the instant case has been shifted to Tihar Jail court complex, New Delhi."

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"Accordingly, from November 24, that is coming Thursday, the trial shall be held at Tihar court complex," said the judge.

He said that the proceedings Wednesday would be held in Patiala House court complex itself as witnesses had been served notices asking them to depose here.

All the accused and defence lawyers expressed displeasure over decision to shift the trial to Tihar and said they would oppose the decision.

"I do not know what is happening in this country," said Raja, opposing the court's direction.

Public Prosecutor A.K. Singh said: "We have already issued summons to witnesses to appear in Patiala House court complex. The shifting will create confusion."

Lawyers for the accused said they will challenge the order in the high court.

The Delhi High Court notification, issued by Registrar General V.P. Vaish, said: "Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and judges of this court are pleased to order that the trial of 2G spectrum case shall be held in Tihar Jail court complex."

Judge Saini announced the shifting of the trial to Tihar while HDFC Bank's Mumbai-based vice president Uday Sahasrabuddhe was being cross-examined as prosecution witness.

Defence counsel opposed the notification and said the shifting of the trial to Tihar Jail would create inconvenience as everybody will have to get an entry pass before attending the proceedings.

Defence counsel Majid Memon, appearing for Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, said the Patiala House court complex was at a prime location, due to which it was easy for everyone to reach here.

"Tihar Jail is in one geographical corner of the capital," said the lawyer from Mumbai, adding that advocates from Chennai and Mumbai may not be familiar with Delhi's areas.

Apart from Raja and Kanimozhi, Tihar Jail houses Shahid Usman Balwa, Cineyug Films' founder Karim Morani, Raja's then private secretary R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and telecom firms' officials.

The Comptroller and Auditor General estimated a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the second generation (2G) radiowave allocation, while the government maintained that there was no loss in the allocation.

The Opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that many ministers, including Home Minister P. Chidambaram, had benefited in the irregular allocation of radiowave.

The Opposition is boycotting Chidambaram in the winter session of Parliament.