2G: SC to hear pleas against Chidambaram's role

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear two pleas today asking for an investigation into Union minister P Chidambaram's alleged role in 2G telecom scam. SC to hear plea against Chidamabaram

The Supreme Court is to hear two pleas on Wednesday asking for an investigation into Union minister P Chidambaram's alleged role in 2G telecom scam.

A petition by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy says that Chidambaram must be held responsible for allowing the telecom scam during his tenure as finance minister. A special CBI court has rejected Swamy's request.

However, Swamy has appealed to the Supreme Court against this verdict.

The apex court had passed a slew of judgements in the scam including the order cancelling the 122 2G spectrum licences granted by A Raja and held that first-come-first served (FCFS) policy could not be used for allocation of natural resources.

Subramaniam Swamy and NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation have moved the apex court against the trial court order giving clean chit to Chidambaram in the scam.

The second petition has been filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO. The petition, filed by lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, alleges that Chidambaram as finance minister overruled his officers who favoured the auction of spectrum.

Bhushan also says that Chidambaram allowed two companies who were allegedly shown undue favour by Raja to sell stake to foreign investors at massive profits on the basis of licences that they had got at hefty bargains

Telecom companies -- Tata Teleservices, Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL) and Uninor -- have sought review of the verdict cancelling their licences.

The Centre has also sought review and clarification in the 2G verdict which held that sanction for prosecution of public servants could be sought even prior to filing of complaint.

The government has said that both companies operated within the parameters of the law in those partnerships.