A Raja, Kanimozhi, 15 others set to face trial in 2G scam case

Way was today paved for the trial in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case with a special court  framing charges against former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 15 others for offences including criminal breach of trust that entails a maximum punishment of life term.

Besides Raja and Kanimozhi, corporate honchos-Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's MD Gautam Doshi, Group President Surendra Pipara and Senior Vice President Hari Nair, Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra and Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka--are among the other high-profile accused who will face trial, commencing on November 11.

"I hereby direct that you all be tried by this court for aforesaid  charges (alleged by CBI)," Special CBI Judge O P Saini, who dealt with offences under thirteen heads in his order, said in the packed courtroom.

There was a pall of gloom in the courtroom as the accused, their family member and relatives heard the judge pronouncing  the order allowing trail under all the penal provisions raised by CBI in its two charge sheets.

With an important milestone reached today in the case, the accused can now now move for bail even as early as Monday as the Supreme Court had observed on an earlier occasion that the accused could seek for relief after charges are framed.

They have also said they will approach the High Court against today's order.