New Delhi, February 12, 2013- In a dramatic twist to the 2G spectrum allocation case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) suspects that their public prosecutor A.K. Singh colluded with an accused to help him.
Based on taped conversations between Singh and Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra -which point to a possible collusion between the defence and the prosecution – the CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) to probe the matter further. The agency has also removed Singh from the case.
CBI sources said that the tapes were sent to them by an anonymous person, and a PE was registered on February 6. Both Singh and Chandra were questioned by the agency on Monday.
In the audiotape played by a private TV channel, Singh purportedly suggests how a key prosecution witness will depose in the court, and is giving details of a three-judge Supreme Court judgement which could be used as a reference in the legal strategy.
Chandra is suspected of saying a Company Law Board official would be brought in to support this stand of another witness.
In another part of the conversation, the CBI suspects that their chief 2G prosecutor is offering to examine the defence witness at whichever date recommended by the defence.
Chandra is believed to be suggesting the name of one Gaurav Jain, his company’s senior legal manager, as the witness they are discussing.
The alleged conversation also points to the 2G prosecutor asking Chandra what is the worth of a government lawyer like him.
To this Chandra purportedly replies that if he works for a corporate sector he will get a salary of Rs.3 to 4 lakh and that daily appearance rates of lawyers have doubled post the 2G scam.
A statement from Unitech denied the allegations, saying, “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. 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. It is reiterated that the recording is a fabrication.”
Repeated attempts to get a reaction from Singh failed since his phone was switched off.
According to CBI sources, the conversations seem to be recorded in a room and don’t appear to be telephonic. The CBI is also trying to find out where these recordings were done and who is the source of these tapes.
The conversations that can make a big impact on the ongoing trial have interestingly surfaced a day before the Joint Parliamentary Committee looking into the 2G scam is scheduled to meet.
CBI director Ranjit Sinha while speaking to the channel denied that this will affect the prosecution’s case in any manner. The CBI has informed the Chief Justice of India, Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Law Ministry about the development.
