Release of 2G accused may influence witnesses: Swamy

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said the high-profile accused in the 2G scam should not be given bail as they may influence witnesses.

"These are not ordinary people, they are billionaires (with) all kinds of international connections. And consequently witnesses could be affected by the atmosphere created by their going out and celebrations for them, holding rallies, etc." Swamy told a TV news channel.

"Therefore, I think in that situation, it is a wiser thing to keep them in jail till at least the witness deposition is over," he added.

Swamy also said that even though the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was not soft on the accused, the agency was under pressure when it came to acting against the politicians named in the case.

"They (CBI) are not going soft on all the accused in the case but but where politicians are involved, they seem to have lot of pressure. They probably would prefer the court to tell them what they want to do," he said.

Swamy has also sought a CBI probe into the role of Home Minister P. Chidambaram in the spectrum allocation during his tenure as the finance minister.

The bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and seven other accused in the 2G spectrum allotment scam were on Thursday dismissed by a CBI special court that said all the applications were without merit. They will continue to be lodged in the Tihar Jail.