Raja accuses CBI of creating 'false witness' in 2G case

A Raja, former telecom minister and the key accused in the 2G scam, on Friday accused the Central Bureau of Investigation in a Delhi court of making his ex-aide Aseervatham Achary a "false witness" to depose against him.

"He is a created false witness and this is my ultimate case," senior advocate Sushil Kumar, who is defending Raja, contended before Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

Achary, Raja's former additional private secretary and a key CBI witness in the case, in his deposition gave details of how Raja was in regular touch with other accused corporate honchos and their companies which were granted spectrum in violation of law.

Kumar, cross examining the witness, further contended that Achary's statement of being threatened by a person sitting in the court room was a "drama" which was intended to influence the pending bail petition of Raja's former private secretary and co-accused R K Chandolia, which would be heard by the Supreme Court on January 2.

"This whole drama was meant for January 2 when Chandolia's bail is coming in the Supreme Court as he (Achary) told the court that the person threatening him was sitting with Chandolia," Kumar further said.

At this stage, the judge wanted to know whether Achary had earlier complained about any threat to his life.

"He (Achary) did not say anything earlier and had he said it then it would have been on record and many of them (accused) would not have got bail," the judge said.

Raja, who had refused for over a month to cross-examine witnesses, saying he would not do so till the CBI files its third charge-sheet and completes its probe in the case, started his defence on Thursday by questioning Achary.

CBI had filed the third charge-sheet on December 12, after which Raja had said that he will cross-examine witnesses only when public servants depose on the issue of government policy.

Raja had posed several questions to Achary ranging from his conversation with former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia to frequently changing his residence and mobile numbers.

Achary had on Thursday complained to the judge that he was receiving threats from a person present in the courtroom who was sitting with Chandolia in the morning.

The man, who had tried to run away, was caught but was released in the evening after the Delhi police found no ground to arrest him after interrogating him.