The stage has been set for Andimuthu Raja, the prime accused in the 2G scandal, to get bail. Raja’s counsel has already moved his bail plea in the court of the CBI special judge, and if all goes well, Raja will be a free man this month.
The court will hear the former minister’s plea on 11 May.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court granted bail to former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, who was in prison since February 2011 for his alleged involvement in the 2G scam.
Relief for Behura. Image courtesy ibnlive
The bail was granted against a surety payment of Rs 5 lakh and a Rs 10 lakh bail bond.
With Behura getting bail, there is no reason for Raja to be denied it, since the two are said to be the key conspirators in the 2G scam. In the past, the Supreme Court has held that bail should be the norm once investigations are completed and trial proceedings started.
Behura was Telecom Secretary when Raja was Union Communications Minister.
Raja moved his bail application as soon as Behura got his bail. In his bail application, Raja has requested the CBI special court to release him on the ground of parity.
“Except me, all the other accused have been released on bail,” Raja said before Special Judge OP Saini who is trying the 2G cases.
Behura had applied for bail in December 2011 but the Delhi High Court rejected the plea fearing that he might influence investigations in the case. His former boss Raja is still lodged in the high security Tihar prison in the national capital.
Raja went to jail on 2 February, and exactly one year later, the Supreme Court cancelled the 122 telecom licences issued by him.
