2G Scam: CBI questions timing of CD, says wrong to say 2G trial hit

A day after a CD containing alleged conversations between the CBI's public prosecutor in the 2G scam, A K Singh, and Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra surfaced, the agency questioned the "timing" of the leak, hinting at "corporate espionage".

The CBI has set up a team to look into any setback to the 2G trial because of the episode, following allegations that Singh could have tried to help Chandra. The CD was aired by news channel CNN-IBN.

"We have registered a preliminary enquiry and cannot rule out corporate espionage. The conversation appears to have been recorded in September-October last year. The fact that it was aired just before the JPC meeting and coming Parliament session cannot be ignored," a top CBI official said.

The agency also defended its prosecutor, saying there was no forensic evidence yet to condemn him. "It is wrong to say that the investigations and trial in 2G case have been compromised. Singh has been associated with several important CBI cases in the past and we have to wait for forensic evidence before taking any action against him. He is not the chief public prosecutor in 2G. He is one of the assisting public prosecutors to U U Lalit, who has been appointed by the court as the special public prosecutor," said an officer.

The agency will be sending the voice samples of Singh and Chandra for forensic examination. Under the CrPC, a person's consent is required before taking samples of his voice.

"We have to wait till the CD's genuineness is proved. Once we find prima facie evidence, we will move to the court to seek permission for voice samples," the officer said.

He also added that the CBI cannot comment on the authenticity of the tape. "It is not clear whether someone has illegally taped the phone or recorded the conversation with a sophisticated device."

Giving out the sequence of events that led to the removal of the public prosecutor, the top official said, "The CBI received a CD containing the conversation between two persons from a source 10 days back. After initial probe, we registered a PE and removed Singh from the 2G case." The CBI refused to reveal the identity of the source.

This was also confirmed by JPC chairman P C Chacko, who said that CBI Director Ranjit Sinha had informed the panel members that the tape was received by a DIG of the CBI from "a source" 10 days ago. The DIG in turn had handed it over to the director. Sinha appeared before the JPC Tuesday and was examined by JPC members.

Responding to a pointed query on whether the tapping was the result of an operation by the counter-intelligence wing of the CBI or someone else, Chacko said he could say from what transpired at the meeting that it was not the work of "a government agency".

Sinha is learnt to have also told the JPC that prima-facie the voices on the tape were those of Chandra and A K Singh.

DMK wants Raja called to JPC

As JPC chairman P C Chacko sought to conclude the process of examining witnesses Tuesday, DMK members T R Baalu and Tiruchi Siva made a forceful plea for summoning former minister and their party colleague A Raja as a witness. Sources disclosed that DMK members also demanded that Shahid Balwa of Swan Telecom be called. Chacko told the media that he would be considering the matter as well as consulting other members of the committee informally.

The JPC chief added that experience had shown that calling a person who is an accused in a court case serves no purpose because he cannot make any fresh revelations before the committee. He added that should Raja be called, he would be the last witness. However, if one former minister is called, it would have implications vis-a-vis other former ministers too.
Courtesy:
Express news service : New Delhi, Wed Feb 13 2013, 09:33 hrs
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-questions-timing-of-cd-says-wrong-to-say-2g-trial-hit/1073423/0

2G SCAM: Sr public prosecutor, Unitech MD face CBI queries

Voice Samples Taken To Match Audio In Tape
New Delhi: After registering a preliminary enquiry four days ago in the case of an audio tape allegedly having a conversation between senior public prosecutor in the 2G case, A K Singh and Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra, the agency on Monday examined the duo for several hours.

Sources say Chandra and Singh were called to the CBI headquarters around 11 am by the 2G investigating team and were quizzed over the 17-minute conversation, which the CBI says pertains to discussion on prosecution strategy in the case, till evening.

They were also reportedly confronted with the tape audio and their voice samples have been taken to match the voices on tape, sources said. The agency is likely to examine them again as the probe progresses.

However, despite the CBI director Ranjit Sinha on Monday going on record to say that the voices on the tape prima facie appear to be that of Chandra and Singh, Unitech has summarily denied its MD’s connection with the tape calling it “fabricated”.

The CBI has removed A K Singh, who was assisting special public prosecutor U U Lalit in the case since the beginning, pending enquiry, with K KGoyal replacing him.

Sources in agency say that the conversation between Chandra and Singh had been recorded last September but it was sent to the CBI only recently. The agency has filed all important chargesheets in the 2G scam in the past two years even as Aircel-Maxis deal is under investigation. However, sources say the accused trying to influence prosecution officers may harm the case during trial, which is being monitored by both the Supreme Court and the JPC.

“Sanjay Chandra 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. He denies the suggestion that his voice is on any alleged recording. It appears a fabricated voice recording has been sent anonymously to the CBI. Any suggestion that Sanjay Chandra is linked with this recording is nothing but an attempt to malign him and prejudice his defence in the 2G case,” Unitech said in a statement.

The CBI in a statement argued
“It has come to the notice of the CBI that a Public Prosecutor was allegedly in touch with, and was discussing certain points regarding prosecution strategy with an accused in the 2G Spectrum allocation case, which is currently under trial before the court of Special CBI Judge at Patiala House Courts. These allegations are being probed.”

JPC to question CBI chief today
    Central Bureau of Investigation director Ranjit Sinhawill be questioned by members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on telecom on Tuesday with regard to the allegations that the agency’s prosecutor in the 2G scam was in unauthorized contact with an accused.

The taped conversation between CBI prosecutor A KSingh and Unitech’s Sanjay Chandra will figure prominently with Opposition MPs like Yashwant Sinha and Gurudas Dasgupta, who are expected to question the CBI chief on the circumstances of the recording and its consequences for the trial.

The CBI chief’s testimony was slated to be one of the last presentations to the JPC along with telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar. But the new revelations may see some members demand more information and seek the presence of additional witnesses. TNN 
Courtesy:
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/02/12&PageLabel=12&EntityId=Ar01200&ViewMode=HTML