The city government and Tihar Jail authorities today told the Delhi High court that Asif Balwa, an accused in the 2G spectrum case, cannot be allowed to use iPad in jail.
“It is not possible to ensure that iPad may not be used as a communication device. Removal of some features from it does not ensure that other large number of applications available are rendered unusable,” the Delhi Government told Mr Justice S. Muralidhar.
The court after going through the detailed note submitted by the jail authorities, however, allowed Mr Asif Balwa to suggest an alternative device through which no communication is possible.
“The petitioner (Asif) will suggest alternative device which can be used only for reading files. The officers of Tihar Jail will again examine the alternative device,” the court said.
Mr Vijay Agarwal, counsel for Mr Asif, also sought the court’s permission to be allowed to suggest an alternative device.
“I am not in love with iPad. They can provide me a dead laptop,” Mr Agarwal said.
Meanwhile, the counsel for Delhi Government also sought directions to make the CBI a party to the case. The court issued notice to the CBI to make it a party in the case.
The court had earlier asked the jail authorities and the city government to examine the iPad, to be used by an accused for reading digitalised case files in prison, to ascertain if the equipment can be misused for communication.
It had also asked the accused counsel to deposit the iPad with the jail officials who would get it checked by the IT department of Delhi Government as to whether it can be misused for communication or not.
The court’s response came after the Delhi Government said that Mr Asif Balwa, Director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables, cannot be allowed to use the iPad as it is not permitted by the jail manual.
The government counsel had said security personnel are not equipped to detect any tampering with the gadget.
The corporate executive has been arrested for his alleged role in facilitating the transfer of a sum of Rs 200 crore to DMK’s party-owned television channel Kalaignar TV through his firm in a “circuitous manner’’.
He is lodged at Tihar Jail along other 12 accused persons including the former Telecom Minister, Mr A. Raja, DMK MP Ms Kanimozhi and Swan Telecom promoter Mr Shahid Balwa.