2G Scam Verdict: All Including A Raja, Kanimozhi Acquitted, Major Setback to CBI-CAG

New Delhi, Dec 21: A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted all those including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi in all cases linked to the 2G Scam. In a single line verdict, Judge

Updated: December 21, 2017 12:15 PM IST

By India.com News Desk | Edited by Pragati Ratti Sharma

The 2G Verdict
सीबीआई ने पूर्व दूरसंचार मंत्री ए राजा , द्रमुक सांसद कनिमोई और अन्य के खिलाफ अभियोग दाखिल किया था.

New Delhi, Dec 21: A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted all those including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi in all cases linked to the 2G Scam. In a single line verdict, Judge OP Saini, said that the “prosecution failed miserably to prove any of its charge. Thus, all accused are acquitted.” All accused were asked to be present in court for the verdict today. The verdict comes six years after the first arrest was made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged Rs 1.76 lakh crore 2G spectrum scam in 2011. DMK MP Kanimozhi was seen thanking the judge with folded hands as he read the operational part of the 2,500-page verdict. All acquitted in the case will have to furnish a bail bond of Rs 5 lakh each.

(Explained: What is 2G Scam)

Celebrations broke out among hundreds of supporters of A Raja and Kanimozhi, who had gathered outside the Patiala House Court in New Delhi,  as soon as the court verdict was out.

Former telecom minister Kapil Sibal, who had rejected the CAG’s theory of loss of  crores due to the scam, described the 2G scandal as a scam by former CAG Vinod Rai.  “Have been saying all along that this was not a scam. It was a scam by Vinod Rai. We stand vindicated,” Kapil Sibal told CNN-News18.

Both the CBI and Enforcement Directorate have said that they will challenge the verdict of the special CBI court in higher court.

The scam relates to the allocation of 2G spectrum licence in 2007-08. According to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report of 2010, the scam caused a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer. The report said that 2G spectrum was given away at throwaway prices and there was no free and fair allocation.

Among those named accused in the scam were former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi, who were arrested and later released on bail. Former telecom secretary Sidharth Behura was also among those accused while some corporate giants like Unitech chief Sanjay Chandra and DB Realty founder Vinod Goenka were also on the list.

The 2G scam allegations served as a huge blow to the image of then PM Dr Manmohan Singh and ultimately led  to the downfall of  Congress-led UPA government. A Raja had then denied any wrongdoing saying that the decisions were taken after apprising Singh.

The Supreme Court in 2012 cancelled 122 licences granted during Raja’s tenure. It directed auctioning of new licences.

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