Asif Balwa wants iPad, cooler in jail

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Asif Balwa, accused as a co-conspirator in the 2G spectrum scam and director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd., on Tuesday sought the Delhi High Court's permission to keep an iPad and an air-cooler in his Tihar Jail cell at his own expense.

He also said that he should be allowed to have vegetarian home-cooked food as per the jail manual.

Asif filed the application before the bench of Justice S. Muralidhar, seeking direction to the Tihar Jail authorities to allow him the use of the two items.

The court issued notice to the central government, the Delhi government and the Tihar Jail superintendent seeking their response to Balwa's request by Wednesday.

"Due to voluminous documentation filed by the investigation agency, we are unable to keep copies of the entire charge sheet (including the documents sought to be relied upon) either in jail or while in court," said his application.

"This lack of access to the material alleged against me is causing grave prejudice and is against my constitutionally protected right to free and fair trial," said the application.

"The lack of access to the material against me stops me from preparing my defence or even prepare for the stage of consideration of charge," it said.

Asif pleaded that he be permitted, at his own cost, to carry electronic copies of the charge sheet and the documents filed therewith by the investigating agency on electronic storage devices and electronic reading devices to permit him to be able to access and study the documents.

Earlier in the day, Justice Ajit Bharihoke issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation on the bail plea of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar, who have been named co-accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Justice Bharihoke asked the CBI to reply by May 30.

Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal, both from Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd., were named in the supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI April 25.

Replying to the bail plea of co-accused and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, the CBI said that in the said conspiracy he played a vital role in allocating the spectrum (airwaves) in an arbitrary and unfair manner to Swan Telecom, specially in Delhi Telecom circle where availability of spectrum was not adequate to cater to the requirements of all applicants.

"There is every likelihood of tampering with prosecution evidence and winning over of witnesses. It is also apprehended that he may abscond to avoid the trial proceedings," said the CBI in its reply.

The application of the accused to release him on bail is strongly opposed and is liable to be dismissed, the CBI said.