Expressing displeasure in delays by the 2G accused in giving their response, Delhi High Court on Tuesday said that all the records must be exchanged and replies must be submitted by February 7 following which the hearing would be conducted on a fast track basis.
The accused persons and companies told the court that they need some more time to reply to CBI and ED's appeal petition against the 2G trial court's judgment acquitting them and pointed out that the agencies have not yet provided some documents of the trial court proceedings.
Demanding the immediate hearing and starting of the process, Tushar Mehtra, the Special Public Prosecutor of 2G cases, said that the accused are making flimsy arguments to delay the start of the case. He reiterated to Justice Najmi Waziri that already two opportunities have given to the accused and in every hearing the accused come with demand of certain documents. Pulling up the accused persons and companies, Justice Waziri said that this is the last chance and hearing must start on February 7. He said that court will conduct hearing on fast track basis.
The court gave the CBI two weeks' time to provide the digitised records of the trial court and six weeks to main accused A Raja and others to file their replies to the agency's appeals and listed the two matters for further hearing on February 7. "These things you can exchange by a phone call. This is the last chance," said Justice Waziri expressing displeasure on the arguments of the accused seeking many documents from CBI.
CBI and ED had on March 20 moved the high court against the trial court's December 21, 2017 decision acquitting Raja, Kanimozhi and others in the 2G spectrum case. In the appeal, CBi and ED said that the trial Judge OP Saini's judgment was totally wrong in law and ignored many crucial evidences.