CBI counsel cries hostile witness, judge disagrees

New Delhi: Former Reliance Communications executive Vardharajan Srinivasan, CBI witness in the 2G spectrum case, told the Special CBI court today that it was under instruction from Hari Nair - one of the three top Reliance Telecom executives accused in the 2G case - that an account opening form for Swan Telecom was sent to HDFC bank by him and a Reliance Capital executive Anand Subramaniam. It may be recalled that Subramaniam, who was the first CBI witness to depose in the 2G case, had retracted his statement to the CBI on this very issue ( Read here ) [caption id=“attachment_177073” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“It looked like the stage was set for a repeat performance. ibnlive”]  [/caption] It looked like the stage was set for a repeat performance when Srinivasan while being cross-examined by Hari Nair’s defence lawyer told the court that he “had never met Hari Nair. I did not speak to Hari Nair before signing the letter (Ex PW 1/B).” On being re-examined by the public prosecutor on this obvious contradiction in the two statements that Srinivasan had made in court, the witness told the court that he took “instructions from my superior AV Venkataramani and on that basis I had submitted the documents to the bank.” At this point, the public prosecutor submitted to the court that the witness be declared hostile. However, the judge, while rejecting the public prosecutor’s plea on the grounds that it “pertains to a limited point” permitted him to cross-examine witness. Clarifying his statement, Srinivasan told the court that he“ had told the Investigating Officer (referring here to the statement he gave to the CBI in March 2011 under Section 161 of the CrPC) that letter was signed by me and Anand Subramaniam on the telephonic instructions of Hari Nair, company secretary of Swan Telecom limited.” Much to the relief of the prosecution, the witness further volunteered to the court that “these telephonic instructions did not come to me directly but came to AV Venkataramani. When AV Venkataramani instructed me, he told me that Hari Nair had asked me to do it.” The witness was today cross-examined for all seventeen accused and discharged. The court is adjourned for further prosecution evidence till Tuesday.