SC rejects Kanimozhi’s plea in 2G case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the pleas of DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and Swan telecom promoter Shahid Balwa to set aside the CBI case registered against them for their alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the pleas of DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and Swan telecom promoter Shahid Balwa to set aside the CBI case registered against them for their alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam.

A bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu, however, gave some relief to those facing trial in the case. It modified its much-debated 2011 direction that disallowed the accused to challenge any trial court order in the case before the Delhi high court and ruled that an appeal shall directly be filed before the Supreme Court (SC).

The CJI’s bench gave liberty to the accused to file an appeal, if required, against the final verdict before the high court. But, in the case of an interim order, the accused would still have to go before the SC.

The case is in the final stages before the lower court and concluding arguments are being heard in it.

The bench told senior advocates Salman Khurshid and Amrendra Sharan, appearing for Balwa and Kanimozhi respectively, that it would not decide their pleas “at this stage” as the trial court has concluded almost two-thirds of the trial in the 2G case.

Meanwhile, a special court on Tuesday fixed December 1 for hearing the ongoing final arguments in the case.