The plea of former Telecom minister A.R.Raja, an accused in the 2G scam to appear before the court to support his counsel during the hearing on October 10, 2011 was rejected by a special CBI O P Saini on Friday. The plea was rejected as the Supreme Court has not handed out any requisition concerning Raja’s production before it and without such direction it is not possible for the accused as a person in judicial custody to be allowed to be present in that court.

The Advocate Sushil Kumar who appeared for Raja, during the hearing pleaded for the permission stating that he requires the assistance of the client in the Supreme Court and that there is no security threat. The application was made by Raja so that he can clarify the facts that will explain the chain of events that happened in a better way. The court held that the accused has no right to be heard when the matter ‘is pending investigation.’ Raja’s plea that he is unable to consult or brief his counsel was held to be baseless as he is given the benefit of having more than an hour of consultation daily in the court room itself.

Raja had alleged in his application that Supreme Court’s supervision over investigation forms prejudice against him and it is on this ground that he sought permission to personally assist the lawyers in the Supreme Court. The court warned Raja against making such statements against the apex court.

Raja’s plea to attend SC hearing rejected

Reported by Lydia Chitra Jacob