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Follow UsNEW DELHI, INDIA: After former communications minister Andimuthu Raja, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa was on Monday allowed by a Delhi court to attend proceedings in the 2G spectrum scam case through video-conference from high-security Tihar Jail.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini allowed Balwa's plea to appear before it through video-conference in view of his backache.
"The remand proceeding of accused Balwa shall be conducted through the facility of video-conferencing on March 17 without him being physically brought to the court from Tihar Jail," said the court.
Balwa would be presented before the court through video-conferencing along with Raja on March 17.
Former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and Raja's personal secretary R.K. Chandolia, also lodged in Tihar Jail, would also be brought to the court on that day, at the end of their judicial custody.
Balwa's counsel Vijay Aggarwal submitted before the court that his client was suffering from severe backache and, considering his medical condition, he may be allowed to attend court through video-conference.
The CBI did not opposed the plea.
"As video electronic linkage is available both in the Patiala House court as well as in Tihar Jail and nothing contrary has been brought to my notice, the prayer is allowed," the judge said.
Raja was arrested along with Behura and Chandolia Feb 2 while Balwa was taken into custody Feb 8.
Balwa is charged with various penal offences relating to forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
The CBI earlier told the court that a transaction of about Rs.200 crore from Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd to Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd was made in 2009.
Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd belongs to Sharad Kumar and other close associates of Raja while the funds were arranged by Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd from DB Group firms having Balwa's family members as their directors and shareholders, the CBI told the court.
Raja is alleged to have manipulated rules to favour some telecom companies, including Swan Telecom and Unitech Private Limited, in allocation of second generation spectrum at throwaway prices to them.
According to the probe agency, the allocation of spectrum resulted in a loss of at least Rs.22,000 crore to the exchequer. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had pegged the notional loss at Rs.1.76 lakh crore, a figure that the government has contested.