Balwa wants name cleared of D-link, says speed up case

Shahid Balwa, former promoter of DB Realty (Swan Telecom) and one of the prime accused in 2G scam on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that his image was being "unfairly tarnished" by linking him with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Shahid Balwa, former promoter of DB Realty (Swan Telecom) and one of the prime accused in 2G scam on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that his image was being "unfairly tarnished" by linking him with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

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"The plea to clear my client of charges of links with the underworld has to be heard at the earliest. Everyday we are getting to read new stories levelling false accusations against him," Rajiv Nayar , lawyer representing Balwa submitted before justice S Muralidhar.

But the court was not inclined to give any relief to Balwa and adjourned the hearing to April 25.

He had moved the court against an official note from the home ministry recommending Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to deny permission to Etisalat to invest money in a Chennai-based firm. One of the four reasons cited in the ministry note — to not allow him to be associated with the company — was that Balwa has links with the underworld.

MHA claims they have sufficient inputs in this regard from the anti-terror squad of the Maharashtra government and the Intelligence Bureau. Terming the allegations as "false and without any basis", Balwa has said in his petition that "baseless allegations have been levelled against me without any evidence despite a thorough enquiry". Balwa wants the court to clear him of charges of links with the underworld.

But additional solicitor general AS Chandiok told the court a early hearing in HC was not possible as the same issue was pending before the Supreme Court.