Will CBI fire fresh salvo at Raja?

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Spelling fresh trouble for former telecom minsiter A Raja, the CBI wants to slap fresh charges against him and other accused in the 2G scam. The move, however, comes at a time when the case under section 420 of IPC for cheating is apparently falling apart.

The move would also put many in a spot including DMK MP Kanimozhi, Swan telecom promoter Shahid Balwa, Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra and Swan telecom director Vinod Goenka. The CBI on Monday asked the trial court to allow section 409 IPC (criminal breach) to be levied.

Speaking to CIOL, one of the counsels for the accused said the investigating agency can't slap more charges in the midst of trial proceedings and it has a malafide intent. "The case under section 420 of IPC for cheating is falling apart and it's an attempt to play with the law," he said.

Questioning the investigation, he said, "they are probing the case for the past two years and have not been able to file a second supplementary chargesheet during the last five months." The counsel, however, believes this will create a mess.

He also informed that they will counter CBI's fresh charges in the special court on September 30.

The CBI, in its two previous chargesheets, had booked the accused for the offence punishable under section 120B, 420, 468 and 471 IPC besides other provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The section 409, if proved, may render life imprisonment to the accused.