2G SCAM: CBI 2G prosecutor removed after CD 'triggers doubt'

Acting on a CD that allegedly raises suspicion about the role of its own public prosecutor in the 2G scam case, A K Singh, the CBI on Monday removed Singh from the trial and registered a preliminary enquiry to probe the development.

The CD containing voices of two persons is said to detail a discussion between Singh and Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra. The 17-minute audio clip was reportedly received by the CBI from an unknown source last week and was aired by TV news channel CNN-IBN on Monday. The CBI has informed the special court set up for 2G cases about the CD.

CNN-IBN claimed that Singh, in the purported taped conversation in its possession, can be heard advising how the proceedings in the 2G case against Unitech can be muddled. It is alleged that Singh is also suggesting ways to weaken the CBI's case against Unitech. The Indian Express has not accessed the CD and cannot independently verify its reported contents.

Unitech refuted the allegations sought to be made by the CD and said Chandra had neither met Singh outside court nor had any phone conversation with him.

It said the voice on the CD appeared fabricated and was an attempt to malign him and prejudice his defence in the 2G case.

CBI director Ranjit Sinha said he could not confirm the genuineness of the recording and a forensic examination would give the correct picture. But since the prosecutor has come under a cloud, he had been transferred from the case, he said, adding that until the inquiry is completed, CBI cannot take action against Singh.

"We have registered a PE and are verifying the allegations leveled in the audio tape. The CD containing the audio was received by CBI few days back from an unknown person," said CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra. Sources said Chandra, who is alleged to be the second voice in the CD, was examined by CBI and also confronted with Singh on Monday.

In one of the conversations broadcast by CNN-IBN, Singh is alleged to be ignoring a suggestion made by the CBI's DIG: "Hamare se upar DIG ka phone aaya tha ki Srivastava se poocho ROC and memorandum wala issue. Maine bola kyun apne pair pe khuladi marwa rahe ho....Srivastava wahi bolega jo file pe hai (The DIG asked me to question one of the witnesses on the issue of memorandum and ROC but I suggested that it will invite trouble for our case)."

CNN-IBN also claimed that the CD contained an "unusual conversation" in which the "chief 2G prosecutor is asking Chandra what the worth of a government lawyer like him is in the market": "Hum logon ki biradari main kya kimat hogi?"

To which Chandra is alleged to have replied: "Dekho agar corporate mein naukri karo to 3-4 lakh but daily appearance ke hisaab se karo, before 2G rates alag hote, after 2g rates double ho gaye hai (If you work in the corporate sector, a salary of Rs 3-4 lakh, but rates of lawyers have doubled after the 2G scam if you work on the basis of daily appearance)."

Reached for comment, a Unitech spokesperson said in an email reply that Chandra was currently unavailable due to a 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. 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," the spokesperson said.

"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. Increasingly, manipulated voice recordings are finding their way into the public domain with ulterior motives. Despite the bereavement in his family, Sanjay Chandra has joined the CBI's enquiries and has made his stand crystal clear," the email said.

"It is regrettable that CNN-IBN did not deem it appropriate to wait for a determination by the CBI and forensic experts regarding the genesis and authenticity of the alleged voice recording before airing the same. It is reiterated that the recording is a fabrication. In the past also, in several cases fabricated recordings have been played out but not one of them have stood the test of judicial scrutiny," it added.
Courtesy:
Express news service : New Delhi, Tue Feb 12 2013, 04:35 hrs
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-2g-prosecutor-removed-after-cd-triggers-doubt/1072947/0

2G SCAM: Prosecutor was helping key accused in 2G case, says CBI

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
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/02/12&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00100&ViewMode=HTML
.............

2G SCAM: CBI probes telco honchos, voice samples sent for tests

New Delhi: Jolted by the disclosure that its case in the mega spectrum scam may have been compromised, the CBI has launched a probe into the audio tape of the purported conversation between its prosecutor A K Singh and 2G scam accused Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra.

The CBI on Wednesday examined representatives of Chandra’s company whose names figured in the conversation. The agency also took Singh’s voice sample and sent it for forensic examination while it is yet to get Chandra’s consent for his voice sample.

Sources said the agency was examining every person mentioned in the 17-minute audio tape, and Shahid Balwa of D B Realty would be called for examination soon. About former, DoT official A K Srivastava — the star CBI witness in the 2G case, sources said he has backed the probe and never retracted from his testimony.

“So far, our enquiry has revealed that Srivastava has not been compromised and he has not been contacted by any 2G accused. The prosecution strategy discussed by A K Singh with Chandra has not affected Srivastava’s testimony,” a source said.

“The audio tape, prima facie, suggests that A K Singh very well knew what he was discussing with Chandra and he was not being pushed to say anything,” the source said.
COURTESY:
Neeraj Chauhan TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/02/14&PageLabel=11&EntityId=Ar01102&ViewMode=HTML