The two-year-long trial by the prosecution in the 2G Scam case ended on Wednesday with the conclusion of cross examination of the Chief Investigating Officer, CBI SP Vivek Priydarshi. Special Judge OP Saini adjourned the proceedings till January 20 to frame questions to be put to the accused including former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi.
The proceedings came to end after the cross examination of Chief Investigating Officer by noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani on behalf of Kanimozhi. At one point, Jethmalani said “only lunatics” can think of Kanimozhi's involvement in the 2G Scam. He asked the CBI officer to explain his client’s role in Kalaignar TV Channel, charged with accepting bribe of Rs 200 crore from accused Shahid Balwa.
Countering Jethmalani's questions, Priyadarshi pointed out Kanimozhi's role in the TV channel from the minutes of board meetings and asserted that she was the decision maker in the affairs of the channel. Though Jethmalani started his cross examination in a lighter vein he gradually turned aggressive in his usual style accusing CBI of falsely framing his "innocent" client.
At some points, Senior Public Prosecutor KK Goel intervened to object to Jethmalani accusing the CBI. Jethmalani's main contention was that Kanimozhi was never connected with the affairs of the TV Channel.
The 2G court has recorded statements of 153 CBI witnesses, including Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani, controversial lobbyist Nira Radia, former RBI Governor D Subbrao and Attorney General G E Vahanvati, running into over 4,400 pages in the case involving Raja and 16 others.
Next week, the 2G Court will resume trial in the Essar-loop case. Already, 83 witnesses have deposed in this case and corporate honchos like Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia have been chargesheeted by the CBI.