'Expedite hearing' to cancel Chandra's bail: CBI to SC

CBI today approached the Supreme Court seeking to expedite the hearing on its plea to cancel the bail granted to Unitech Ltd Managing Director Sanjay Chandra, accused in the 2G spectrum case, for allegedly trying to "sabotage the trial".

CBI today approached the Supreme Court seeking to expedite the hearing on its plea to cancel the bail granted to Unitech Ltd Managing Director Sanjay Chandra, accused in the 2G spectrum case, for allegedly trying to "sabotage the trial".

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A bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi, however, asked senior advocate U U Lalit, appearing for the agency, to file an appropriate application in this regard.

The matter is likely to be listed before a new bench comprising justices H L Dattu and K S Radhakrishnan as Justice Singhvi, who is demitting office on December 11, has recused himself from hearing the 2G cases.

CBI has sought cancellation of Chandra's bail alleging he had misused the relief given to him by approaching the then CBI prosecutor A K Singh and trying to "materially interfere" with the prosecution in an "attempt to influence" the conduct and outcome of the trial.

On CBI's petition, the court had earlier issued notice to Chandra and asked him to file his response on the petition.

CBI has sought recall of the apex court's November 23, 2011 order by which he was granted bail.

It has alleged that conduct of Chandra was questionable during the period of bail as he was found holding discussion with the prosecutor about crucial witnesses.

"It is apparent the freedom granted to accused by means of enlargement from custody has been misused by him and that allowing him to continue unabated will be detrimental to the conduct of this trial and to the greater public interest," CBI has said in its application.

His conversation with the prosecutor, who was removed from the case, reflected that the entire strategy of CBI in dealing with the case was compromised, the agency has said.

CBI said it had registered a Preliminary Enquiry report which named Chandra and prosecutor Singh.

The investigation also suggested that the conversation took place between the two when the statement of crucial witness A K Srivastava, Department of Telecom's former Deputy Director General (AS) was being recorded in the court, it has said.

The agency has also stated that the CFSL report has confirmed that the recorded conversation was neither tampered with nor any editing was done and it was the voice of Chandra and Singh.