Talk Between Unitech MD, Counsel ‘Taped’
New Delhi: In a stunning twist to the 2G case, an audio tape of a CBI senior public prosecutor purportedly advising a key accused on how to counter the prosecution’s charge has emerged, breathing fresh life into the megascam and bringing fresh trouble for the UPA government.
The tape, sent to the CBI anonymously, purportedly has the agency’s senior public prosecutor, A K Singh, speaking to Sanjay Chandra, managing director of Unitech and one of the main accused in the scam, tutoring him on how to strengthen his defence and weaken the CBI’s case against him. “I have been muddling up the matters only for you,” Singh purportedly tells Chandra in the tape, which has been sent for forensic investigation.
In a revealing bit, Singh asks the person purported to be Chandra what would be the value of a lawyer like him in the corporate sector. Chandra replies by mentioning a monthly salary of Rs 3-4 lakh, excluding the daily appearance fee which, according to him, doubled in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam.
The investigation agency confirmed the tape and said Singh has been removed and a preliminary inquiry filed to probe the case.
A statement issued by Unitech said, “Sanjay Chandra is currently unavailable owing to bereavement in his family. However, he wishes to make it absolutely clear that he has never met the prosecutor in the 2G case outside of court or had any phone conversation with him... It appears a fabricated voice recording has been sent anonymously to the CBI.”
‘Balwa’s poor legal strategy ruined everyone’s interest’
The September tape, the origin of which remains a puzzle amid speculation that corporate rivals could be behind the sting, has the prosecutor further claiming that he has misled a CBI DIG in order to help Chandra. He coaches the accused that he should blame the press release where the cutoff date for eligibility of spectrum was changed in order to rebut the allegation that Unitech was singled out by Raja for favour.
The conversation touches on the deposition of senior DOT official A K Srivastava incriminating Chandra. Srivastava had in August 2012 told the 2G court that A Raja’s private secretary R K Chandolia had asked him to stop receiving new applications for 2G licences once he had received papers from Unitech group firms.
Singh who has now been replaced by K K Goyal as CBI’s prosecutor in the 2G case, also advises Chandra to quietly get the MOU matter out of way: perhaps a reference to Unitech’s deal with Telenor where the Norewigian telecom giant paid Rs 6,100 crore for 60% stake in the former’s venture. The transaction has been cited by CBI as evidence that the Rs 1651crore Unitech and others paid for the 2G spectrum was a scam.
Going by the purported tape, Singh guides Chandra on orders of the Supreme Court and Allahabad HC which could help defence, and discusses Unitech’s issues with the ministry of corporate affairs.
AK Singh also tells Chandra that Shahid Balwa, another accused and co-promoter of Mumbai-based DB group, has “ruined everyone’s interest” by his poor legal strategy.
Chandra and Singh were examined by the CBI on Monday. In a statement issued later, Unitech described the contents of the tape as concocted, stressing that Chandra would cooperate with the investigation. Attempts to contact Singh for his version did not succeed.
The CBI reacted to the scandalous embarrassment by launching a Preliminary Enquiry, taking Singh off the 2G case. It also informed the Supreme Court which is monitoring the investigation, Central Vigilance Commission and the government.
The fear of sabotage of prosecution brings the spotlight back on the huge scam, widely seen as symbolizing crony capitalism and underlining the politico-corporate nexus, just when it appeared to be receding from public discourse. The multi-billion scam which along with Commonwealth Games bruised the UPA and raised doubts about India as a safe investment destination. But it had lately retreated to fringes, despite the occasional reports on sparring between the prosecution and defence counsel in the court and the slugfest in the Joint Parliamentary Committee between ruling coalition and opposition members.
The revelation can stoke up the flagging attention, with anti-corruption activist Prashant Bhushan alleging that Singh’s purported collusion was part of an effort to hush up the scam case, rather than in instance of individual indiscretion.
TWIST IN TELECOM TALE
CBI files preliminary enquiry report, claims 2G case prosecutor A K Singh colluded with accused Sanjay Chandra of Unitech.
Singh apparently heard tutoring Chandra in tape sent anonymously to CBI; agency removes Singh as prosecutor in case Singh heard purportedly telling Chandra, “I have been muddling up the matters only for you”
Courtesy:
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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