The CBI counsel Mr K K Venugopal told the Supreme Court on Thursday not to entertain the Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy’s petition demanding investigation into the alleged role of the Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram in the 2G case. This comes a day after Dr Swamy filed new documents as ‘proof’ against Mr Chidambaram.
Mr Venugopal claimed that the Comptroller and Auditor General report on the 2G issue has not pointed fingers at the Finance Ministry.
He said Mr Chidamabaram, as the then Finance Minister, could not have taken the decision himself on the 2G spectrum prices and entry fee in 2008 without consulting other officials in the Ministry, including the then Finance Secretary Dr D Subbarao. Dr Subbarao is the current Reserve Bank of India Governor.
The CBI counsel said Dr Subbarao had then worked closely with Mr Chidambaram on the decisions on 2G spectrum, adding that therefore any one person cannot be held responsible. If such allegations are made, then one will not be able to take policy decisions, he said, adding that in that case it can be said that the then Finance Secretary would be equally culpable. He said he suspects serious motives behind such allegations.
He also asked the court not to act only on the basis of the Finance Ministry document submitted by Dr Swamy on Wednesday as ‘proof’ of Mr Chidambaram’s alleged role. He added that the Finance Ministry does not have the powers to cancel the licences issued by the Telecom Department.
During the hearing when Mr Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (petitioner in the case), said that Mr Venugopal seems to be defending the then Finance Minister as well, Mr Venugopal objected saying he is only defending the CBI in the matter. “To allege motives is the easiest thing to do,” he said. Dr Swamy had alleged that the CBI is not investigating the 2G case properly.
Mr Venugopal said the apex court can continue to monitor the CBI probe into cases regarding the alleged role of former Telecom Minister Mr Dayanidhi Maran and some corporate houses.