2G scam: A Raja gets bail after 15 months in jail

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to former telecom minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum scam. The court has asked A Raja to submit Rs 25 lakh as surety. Raja has also been directed not to visit Tamil Nadu without the court's prior permission. A Raja had been in jail for the past 15 months and this was the first time that he had applied for bail.

"The case is all sewn up and there is very little Raja can do to influence the case. I said he should get bail according to Supreme Court guidelines. I only fear for his life," said Subramanian Swamy, Janata Party President and a petitioner in the 2G case.

Raja's supporters were celebrating outside the court after the bail order was pronounced. Reports suggest that Raja will walk out of the jail at 7 pm on Tuesday.

A Raja was the first one to have been arrested in the 2G scam and is the last one to have been granted bail.

Reacting to the bail order, DMK leader TR Baalu said, "We are very happy that Raja has been given bail. The party is with him."

The DMK MP had filed the bail plea on the ground of parity with other 13 co-accused who had all been granted relief by the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court and the special court trying the case.

But the CBI countered this argument in court last week by saying that since Raja was the starting point of this entire conspiracy, he could not be held at parity with the other co-accused.

Another point that Raja's lawyers raised was that the evidence in the case was documentary in nature and therefore, there was little chance that if he was out of jail, he could influence the evidence in this case.

To counter this, the CBI pointed out that a part of the investigation into a deal allegedly done to favour Raja, was still pending and also witnesses in this case were from Tamil Nadu, a state from which Raja hails from.

During the probe, it has come to light that Raja and others received bribe of another Rs 200 crore in connection with the spectrum scam, it said.

The CBI prosecutor had raised questions on Raja's alleged links with Mauritius-based Delphi Investment Ltd, in which Reliance Telecom Ltd had allegedly transferred its shares and said if released on bail at this stage, he might tamper with the evidence.

"It is suspected that there may be involvement of public servants, including accused A Raja and his family members etc, in the affairs of the said companies (Delphi)," the prosecutor had said.

A Raja was arrested on February 2, 2011.

(With additional information from PTI)

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