2G case: Raja accuses witness of deposing under CBI pressure

Former Telecom Minister A Raja today cross examined a former senior DoT official, a key witness in the 2G case, accusing him of being "under pressure of the CBI" to depose "falsely" on certain crucial aspects of the case.

Raja's lawyer Sushil Kumar, who was cross-examining A K Srivastava, a former Deputy Director General(AS) of Department of Telecom (DoT), asked him why he had not told the CBI earlier that Chandolia, the then private secretary of Raja, had asked him whether Unitech Group's applications have been received by the department.

"In your statement before this court dated August 1, 2012, you had stated that Chandolia asked me whether applications of Unitech Group have been received. However, this does not figure in your statements to the CBI recorded till March 4, 2011," Kumar asked the witness.

Raja's counsel also questioned Srivastava that he had deposed in the court that Chandolia had told him that Unitech Group's application would be submitted to DoT but he had not said this to the CBI in his statements recorded till March 21, 2011 by the agency.

Srivastava, however, denied Raja's accusations saying that the fact relating to Chandolia asking him about Unitech Group's applications was "explained to CBI" by him.

"The fact was explained to CBI when investigating officer (IO) asked it. It is wrong to suggest that I have deposed about these two facts before this court under pressure of the CBI," Srivastava told Special CBI Judge O P Saini, adding "it is wrong to suggest that I am deposing falsely."

Srivastava had earlier deposed that Chandolia had asked him to stop receiving new applications for 2G spectrum licences once the Unitech Group firms submit them.

Raja, Chandolia and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd, along with others, are facing trial in the 2G case.

... contd.

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