2G scam undertrials accuse CBI of withholding key documents

Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, named as an accused in the second-generation (2G) mobile telephony spectrum allocation scam, today told a Delhi court that CBI is not providing it all documents, filed along with the charge sheet, despite the case itself being based entirely on documents.

Appearing on behalf of Swan Telecom, advocate Amit Desai submitted before special CBI Judge OP Saini that the agency should supply all the documents, which they have filed in the court along with the charge sheet, to them so that they could respond.

The counsel for other accused also pointed out to the court that CBI is withholding some of the documents which they have filed in the court.

"This is a legal requirement to supply whatever documents have been relied....What has been forwarded to the court should be supplied to us as well," the defence counsel said.

The defence counsel also referred to the tapes of recorded conversation of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia saying in her statement as a prosecution witness, she had referred to those conversations, but the CBI is not providing any such transcripts to them.

"None of the CDs nor the transcripts have been provided to us," the counsel said.

The CBI, however, countered the allegations saying they are not withholding any document.

CBI prosecutor AK Singh said there are some documents on which they have not relied upon and thus the accused were not supplied the copies of such documents. "We are not withholding any document. We are not relying on those documents. We have nothing to conceal and everything is on record," the CBI said adding if the court deems it fit to direct it to supply documents to the accused, it can do so.

The court, after hearing arguments regarding supply of entire documents annexed with the charge sheet, posted the matter for order on May 8.

Regarding some of the deficiency in the documents supplied to the accused, the CBI clarified that it was due to clerical mistakes.

The court also allowed Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, an accused in the case, to sign two cheques.