2G case: Ex-Telecom Secy moves HC against charge-framing

Former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura on Friday moved the Delhi high court challenging the framing of charges against him in 2G spectrum allocation scam case.

"Issue notice to Central Bureau of Investigation for March 13," Justice M L Mehta said while admitting the petition of Behura who, along with ex-Telecom Minister A Raja, is in jail since his arrest on February 2 last year.

The moment advocate Aman Lekhi, appearing for Behura, started advancing his arguments, Justice Mehta said "I have kept similar petitions of other accused in the case for hearing on March 12 and 13. Let, it be heard with them."

Opposing the framing of charges under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, Behura, in his petition, said there was no substantive allegation against him.

It is not the case of CBI that he received any bribe or took part in any conspiracy, the retired bureaucrat said.

So far, out of 17, nine accused, including Behura, Reliance ADAG officials, Group Managing Director Gautam Doshi, Senior Vice President Hari Nair and Group President Surendra Pipara and Sanjay Chandra, Managing Director of Unitech, Rajeev Agarwal and Asif Balwa, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Private Ltd, have moved the high court against the lower court order on framing of charges.

Telecom firms, Reliance Telecom Ltd and Unitech, have also challenged the order of the lower court on the issue.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini had on October 22 framed charges against the 17 accused for offences of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and abuse of official position under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. If held guilty, they could be awarded life term as maximum sentence.