New Delhi: Former Telecom Minister A. Raja, DMK MP M. Kanimozhi and 15 others were acquitted this morning of charges in what was described as India’s biggest telecom scandal, the “2G Scam.”
The Judge said investigators could not prove that Raja, along with officials from companies that won the licenses for telecom services, had conspired to receive kickbacks from the sale of phone permits, causing a loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the Government.
Reading the operative part of the judgement, the Judge said: “I have no hesitation in holding that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove the charges and all the accused are acquitted of the charges.”
The case became the centrepiece of allegations of egregious corruption on then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s watch. But as the Congress called it a vindication of their Government, the ruling BJP has pointed out that the Supreme Court had accepted that there was corruption and cancelled all 122 licenses handed out by Raja.
Reacting to the verdict, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pointed out that the Supreme Court had in 2012 held that the 2G policy of the Congress-led UPA Government was “corrupt and dishonest.” Jaitley said: “That this was a corrupt, dishonest policy was upheld by the SC in February 2012. Each and every case of spectrum allocation was quashed by the SC as unfair and arbitrary.”
Raja, who had defended himself in Court and cross-examined all the witnesses, was in tears. So were his family members. The former Minister spent nearly one year in prison after his arrest in 2011. Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK Chief M. Karunanidhi said: “Justice has prevailed.”
The “2G” trial began in 2011, a year after the national auditor said in its report that there had been massive irregularities in the allocation of second generation or 2G licences when Raja was the Minister. The auditor said licences were given to telecom operators in 2007-2008 at throwaway prices without a free and fair bidding process.
Named along with Raja in the scandal were the promoters and top executives of some of India’s best-known telecoms including the one owned by Anil Ambani’s conglomerate.
The CBI had alleged that a Rs. 200-crore bribe paid by a telecom operator to Raja was deposited in a TV channel in Chennai that is owned in part by Kanimozhi.
The 2G scam was among the major corruption scandals that came to light during the second term of Manmohan Singh’s coalition government.
The court did not say that the scam never happened! Its verdict says, these 17 people were either not the true criminals or did not have any proof agaist them to the level of punishing them! It was Congress led UPA government that accused them! So, appears these were the scapegoats used for saving the real culprits. That is why they might have put the corrupt officers to ensure that evidence not only was nor provided but even may be destroyed! That explains why Congress’ is gloating on the verdict and keeps re-iterating the zero loss theory while they weren’t the ones filed this case under their rule!
O.P.Saini is the godfather of 2G scamsters!
He has declared Chiambarm was not guilty of 2G in 2012.
He declared Megan brother not guilty of 2G in 2007.
In 2017 he finds Raja and Kannimozi not guilty!
Now Malya has a chance. He can request OP Saini on his case .
Miracle – A land called INDIA
No one killed Jesica
No one killed Sunanda Pushkar
No one killed Arushi
No one killed people sleeping on the foot path
No one killed the Black Bucks
and now
No one Conned the country of 1.7 Lakh Crores
and in future
No one will be guilty in Coal Scam
No one will be guilty in CWG Scam
No one will be guilty in National Herald Scam
No one will be guilty in Augusta Westland Scam
No one will be guilty in any SCAM
ONLY WE IDIOTS ARE GUILTY OF WASTING OUR TIME WATCHING THE DISCUSSIONS OF THESE SCAMS ON TV
If only Nirbhaya rape case had gone to judge O.P.Saini those innocent rapists would be alive! Now Congress and the PM who took showers with raincoat has become the epitome of clean handed ness and are demanding resignation from the people who accused them of corruption
*Incredible India* for sure