Bail rejected, jail for 5 telecom bosses

A Delhi court on Wednesday refused bail to five top bosses of 2G spectrum scam-tainted telecom firms - including Unitech's Sanjay Chandra, Reliance ADAG's Gautam Doshi and Swan Telecom's Vinod Goenka - on the ground that they might tamper with evidence and even attempt to flee. HT reports.

A Delhi court on Wednesday refused bail to five top bosses of 2G spectrum scam-tainted telecom firms - including Unitech's Sanjay Chandra, Reliance ADAG's Gautam Doshi and Swan Telecom's Vinod Goenka - on the ground that they might tamper with evidence and even attempt to flee.

HT Image

The two other accused were Reliance ADAG's Surender Pipara and Hari Nair.

The Supreme Court-appointed special public prosecutor UU Lalit expressed the apprehension that the accused could try to influence witnesses.

The five were immediately taken into custody and sent to Tihar jail, as special CBI judge OP Saini refused to grant them time to make alternative arrangements before surrendering.

The court said while rejecting the bail applications: "A bare perusal of the facts of the case and allegations in the chargesheet make out a case of the highest magnitude and gravity and there is enough incriminating material on record against the accused."

Within an hour of bail rejection, the accused, however, moved the Delhi High Court against the special court order. A bench, headed by Justice Vikramajit Sen, will hear the petition on Thursday.

Earlier, the court also rejected the defence argument that the accused should be granted bail, as they were not arrested during the probe.

"I am satisfied that in a case of this magnitude, non-arrest of the accused by the police (CBI) is of no consequence and bail is to be considered as per the facts and circumstances of the case."