Irked over the delaying tactics adopted by the 2G scam accused, including Shahid Balwa, the Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the erring persons and companies to plant 16,300 saplings in Delhi’s South Ridge forest area.
Justice Najmi Waziri was upset to find that Balwa, his associate Rajeev Agarwal, former Telecom Minister A Raja’s private secretary RK Chandolia and Balwa’s companies had not filed replies to the appeals filed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The court asked them and representatives of their companies to appear before forest officials on February 15 to start planting trees.
Granting the last opportunity to Balwa, director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Private Limited Rajiv Agarwal, and representatives of Dynamic Realty, DB Realty Limited and Nihar Constructions Private Limited to file responses on March 26, Justice Waziri asked them to plant 3,000 saplings each.
Similarly, the High Court allowed the plea of Raja’s erstwhile private secretary RK Chandolia, director of Kusegaon Fruits Balwa and Agarwal to grant the last opportunity to file responses in the CBI’s case.
The court also asked Chandolia to plant 300 trees and Balwa and Agarwal will plant 500 trees (in addition to his 3,000) each in South Delhi.
Justice Waziri pointed out to the respondents that three months had passed since the last order was passed in October 2018.
Balwa, Agarwal and the three companies along with others, including former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, were acquitted by the trial court in the ED’s money laundering case. The CBI and the ED have challenged their acquittal.
All of them have been asked to report to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (South) on February 15 for planting of saplings.
The companies will be represented through their authorised signatory. “The plants shall be of indigenous variety and they shall be of nursery age of three and a half years and have a height of at least six feet. They will ensure the maintenance of trees till the rainy season,” the court said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI and the ED, said this is the best of way of imposing cost.
Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Balwa and others, said they welcome the court order. “It is innovative and in right earnest. We do volunteer for the same,” Aggarwal said.
The 2G Special Court headed by Judge OP Saini had acquitted all the accused on December 27, 2017. Challenging the controversial judgment of the trial court, the CBI and the ED appealed to the Delhi High Court on March 2018. The HC issued notice to all the acquitted persons and firms and fixed the appeals for arguments in June last year.
But the accused kept seeking more time to file their replies. In October last year, the High Court had said they would not be given any more time and had asked the acquitted persons to file their responses on February 7.