2G case: Shahid Balwa quizzes prosecution witness Asheervatham Achary

Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa on Monday quizzed in a Delhi court key 2G case prosecution witness Asheervatham Achary as to how he knew about former Telecom Minister A Raja's meetings with DMK MP Kanimozhi, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and other company executives.

Balwa's counsel wanted to know how Achary, the erstwhile personal aide of the minister, knew of Raja's meetings with Kanimozhi when he never accompanied the former minister nor did he visit her house.

Responding to Balwa's query, Raja's former Additional Private Secretary said he was told about the meetings by Raja himself.

"It is correct that A Raja used to visit the houses of his senior leaders, both in Chennai and Delhi. I never visited the house of Kanimozhi personally. I gathered that Kanimozhi was residing at South Avenue, New Delhi. I have not seen A Raja visiting the house of Kanimozhi at South Avenue," Achary said.

"A Raja himself told me that he was visiting the house of Kanimozhi and need not be disturbed. I did not tell CBI or the magistrate (in earlier statements) that Raja himself told me that he was visiting the house of Kanimozhi and need not be disturbed," the witness added.

RN Mittal, appearing for Balwa, also questioned Achary regarding his knowledge of Raja's meetings with Radia, to which the witness said he did not know the purpose for which she used to come to Raja's office.

Achary said he came to know about Radia when he was under Raja in the Ministry of Environment and Forest between 2004 and 2007. He, however, said he was not sure how many times and for what purpose she had visited Raja.