Raja's release may dilute 2G case: Jayalalithaa

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday said the 2G spectrum allotment scam case seemed to be getting diluted with the bail granted to former communications minister and the main accused A Raja.

Queried about the bail granted to Raja, she told reporters in Chennai: "I am hearing about it from you only now. It definitely looks as though it is (2G case) getting diluted."

Raja, lodged in the Tihar jail in Delhi since February 2011, was on Tuesday granted bail by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge OP Saini.

The 49-year-old DMK leader was granted bail on a surety of Rs 25 lakh after spending 15 months in jail.

When asked about Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's role in the Aircel-Maxis deal, Jayalalithaa said: "It is up to (Janata Party chief ) Subramanian Swamy to substantiate his allegations, and it is up to Minister Chidambaram to defend himself. In a situation like this, the only hope is the Supreme Court."

Meanwhile, DMK party workers in Perambalur burst crackers and distributed sweets after party MP Raja was granted bail.

As news spread of his release from the Tihar jail, jubilation broke out in Raja's native town Perambalur, around 300 km from in Chennai, police said. However, the celebrations were low key, they added.

The DMK welcomed the court's decision to free Raja on bail, though he has been barred from visiting Tamil Nadu.

"We are happy. Getting bail is part of the legal process. We are confident that Raja will come out clean in the whole episode," DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan told IANS over phone from New Delhi.

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