The CBI opposed the bail plea of DMK MP Ms Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Mr Sharad Kumar — both accused in the 2G case — in the Supreme Court on Friday.
In its reply to the Special Leave Petition filed by Ms Kanimozhi and Mr Kumar before the apex court, the CBI feared that if the two are released on bail, they may influence the witnesses in the case and tamper with evidence.
The CBI said it would not be proper for the Supreme Court to grant bail to the two as the probe in the case is at an advanced stage. The CBI has accused Ms Kanimozhi and Mr Kumar of taking Rs 200 crore as “reward for undue favours” shown by the former Communications and IT Minister, Mr A. Raja, in the 2G spectrum allocation to Swan Telecom.
Though Ms Kanimozhi and Mr Kumar had claimed that the Rs 200-crore transaction was a loan and that the money was returned with interest through bank transactions, the CBI alleged it was a bribe amount which is now in a bank account. The CBI said the loss to the exchequer due to the irregular grant of licences during Mr Raja's tenure was around Rs 30,000 crore.
2 judges recuse from case
PTI reports : Two Supreme Court judges, Mr Justice P. Sathasivam and Mr Justice A.K. Patnaik, who were scheduled to hear on Monday the bail plea of Ms Kanimozhi, today recused themselves from the hearing. Instead, Mr Justice G. S. Singhvi, whose Bench has been monitoring the case, will hold a special hearing on Monday along with Mr Justice B. S. Chauhan to decide on the bail applications.