Framing of charges will pave way for bail pleas of 2G accused: Salman Khurshid

With a Special CBI court today framing charges against former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanomozhi and 15 others in the multi-crore 2-G spectrum scam, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said this will pave the way for the hearing of their bail applications. Khurshid, however, refrained from commenting on the merits of the case, saying "the matter is sub-judice".

"Now that charges have been framed, it should be possible for the court to hear the bail applications of the accused in the case. What happens in course obviously time will tell," Khurshid told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting of the National Development Council.

When asked to comment on the framing of charges on counts like criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating and forgery, after the trial court charged all the accused under Section 409 of IPC for alleged criminal breach of trust which attracts a maximum punishment of life term, the Law Minister refrained from making a comment and said, "The matter is sub-judice and the trial is on."

He said, "When charges are being framed or have been framed, it means the trial has now begun formally and when the trial is taking place and charges have been framed, it would not be correct or appropriate to comment on it outside court. Whatever needs to be said has to be said by people who are directly involved inside court and during arguments in court."

He, however, added that "since the Supreme Court had indicated in its order that once the charges are framed, thereafter bail applications pending before the trial court can be considered. Trial court had indicated 24th as the date. Now that charges have been framed, it should now be possible for the court to hear the bail applications."

"The bail applications will be now taken up. The court will take a decision on this soon... What happens in course, obviously, time will tell," he said.