2G case: CBI, Centre oppose probe against Chidambaram

Tuesday, September 20, 2011: The CBI today opposed in the Supreme Court a plea for probing Home Minister P Chidambaram’s alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam case saying it is beyond its jurisdiction to entertain it.

Maintaining that the probe into the multi-crore scam during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja was complete, the agency opposed the plea of Janata Party President Subramanium Swamy.

Swamy sought the probe alleging that Chidambaram, the then Finance Minister, was party to conspiracy with Raja in deciding the price for spectrum.

At the outset, both the CBI and the Centre questioned the maintainability of Swamy’s plea saying he has filed a similar application in the trial court and the issue has to be decided by the Special CBI Court.

The CBI said that Supreme Court cannot give such an order and it for the trial court to take decision on the issue.

“Questions of any further investigation or addition of accused in the case have to be decided by the trial court and not by this court,” senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, submitted before a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly.

“Investigation is complete in 2G scam (during the tenure of Raja) and framing of charges is to be decided by the trial court. If the trial court finds that there is any wrong doer then it can add the person in the list of accused,” he said questioning the jurisdiction of the apex court to entertain Swamy’s plea.