2G scam: SC rejects pleas of accused for recalling orders

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today rejected the pleas of the accused in the 2G spectrum case seeking recall of its two orders barring the high court from hearing the matters arising out of the scam.

A bench comprising G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said there was no good ground for recalling the orders of 11 April, 2011 and 9 November, 2012 restraining all other courts from entertaining any petition or application in the case.

[caption id="attachment_1081933" align="alignleft" width="380"] Supreme Court of India. AFP[/caption]

The bench dismissed the petition, saying that the two orders were passed keeping in mind the larger public interest involved in the matter and the interest of the accused persons that there should not be any impediment in speedy trial.

"We do not find basis to the contention of the parties against the two orders," the bench said.

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It further said seeing the magnitude of the case and the alleged involvement of large number of people in the scam, the order barring the high court from hearing any issue arising out of the 2G case was passed to prevent delay.

The court passed the order on plea of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, MD DB Realty Vinod Goenka, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd executives Rajiv Agarwal and Asif Balwa and former private secretary of the then telecom minister A Raja.

Their pleas were opposed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL).

The Supreme Court had on April 11, 2011 directed that no court other than the apex court shall entertain any application relating to the case.

In light of this order, on 9 November, 2012 order, the court stayed all proceedings in the Delhi High Court relating to 2G spectrum scam which included pleas of former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and corporate executives seeking quashing of charges against them.

PTI