2G trial may continue beyond Lok Sabha polls in 2014

New Delhi: The year 2014 is likely to be a decisive year in the high profile 2G spectrum case involving former telecom minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and top corporate executives.

Two years after the trial began at a special CBI court in Delhi, the prosecution concluded recording its evidence in the case last month. In what is likely to draw media’s attention back to the case, which was the first big corruption scandal to rock UPA-II, the New Year will see the Special CBI court commence the recording of statements of Raja and the 16 other co-accused in case.

Recording statements (under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code) of the 17 accused, which will begin from 20 January, will give each of the accused the opportunity to explain the circumstances appearing in evidence against him in response to questions put by the court. The process is expected to continue for about a month, following which the defence will call its witnesses.

The defence’s list of witnesses-each of the 17 are expected to submit individual lists-is likely to create some buzz given the probability of some very high profile names being on that list. Of course, it will be subject to the court being convinced that the witness is relevant to case will he or she be summoned to depose in the trial. The accused also has the option of choosing to become a witness himself.

While the CBI produced as many 153 witnesses, the recording of whose statements lasted two years, running into over 4000 pages of evidence, the list of defence witnesses is unlikely to be a long one. It is expected to consist of 30 or so names. While the defence is tight-lipped about who it will call, there is no ruling out the likelihood of defence seeking to call the prime minister as a witness.

Incidentally, around the time that the defence will be building its case and calling its witnesses, Delhi and the rest of India will be caught up process of electing a new government. The Lok Sabha elections, if on schedule, are due in April-May.

And so the 2G spectrum trial could very well outlast the UPA-II regime. If one were to go by the dooms day predictions that pollsters are predicting for the UPA, India is headed for a non-Congress government. And if DMK’s recent announcement ruling out an alliance with the Congress in 2014 Lok Sabha elections is any indication, a non-UPA regime is a scenario that the defence in the 2g trial, which includes two DMK members, too will be banking on.

After the defence concludes its evidence, perhaps by April, the trial will enter its last stage, when both sides will make their final arguments.

Given the complex nature of the case, the final arguments are expected to be a long-drawn affair. The fact that arguments on charges lasted three months, the final arguments too can be expected to continue for around the same time.

With the Delhi courts scheduled to close for a month (summer vacation break) in June, it is quite likely that the trial will spill over to the second half of the year and a judgement not likely to come before September-October.