2G case: Behura allowed to appear before JPC on April 11 & 18

Former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case, was on Friday allowed by a Delhi court to appear before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on April 11 and 18 for recording of his evidence.

Former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case, was on Friday allowed by a Delhi court to appear before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on April 11 and 18 for recording of his evidence.

Special CBI Judge OP Saini, who is hearing the case on a day-to-day basis, exempted Behura from personal appearance before the court on April 11 and 18 to facilitate his appearance before the JPC.

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The order came on a letter from the Tihar Jail, apprising the court that Behura, who is lodged in the jail since his arrest on February 2 last year, is required to appear before the JPC.

"A letter has been received from the jail superintendent, accompanied by photocopies of letters received from the JPC and accused Behura, to the effect that oral evidence of Behura is to be recorded by the JPC on April 11 and 18, 2012 at 11 am in committee room 'B', Parliament House annexe, New Delhi.

"It is prayed in the letter that necessary permission may be granted for the same," the judge said.

The court directed the jail superintendent to ensure Behura's production before the JPC on the two dates.

"Accordingly, accused Behura is exempted from personal appearance before this court on April 11 and 18 to facilitate his appearance before the JPC and the jail superintendent shall ensure his production before the JPC on the aforesaid dates as per law," the court said.

The court, however, said Behura's counsel should remain present in the proceedings during the ongoing trial on these two dates.

The JPC has decided to summon all former telecom ministers and secretaries to collect evidence on the telecom policies followed from 1998 to 2009.