2G case: Raja's pvt secy Chandolia gets bail

Former Telecom Minister A Raja's erstwhile Private Secretary R K Chandolia, arrested for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum case, was today granted bail by a Delhi court.

"The bail application is allowed," Special CBI Judge O P Saini said, accepting Chandolia's bail plea. With grant of bail to Chandolia, only Raja and former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura have been left in jail.

All 12 other accused, arrested in the case, have now secured bail. Chandolia, who has been in jail since his arrest on February 2, this year, was granted the relief on furnishing a personal bond of Rs three lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

The court had yesterday reserved its order on Chandolia's bail plea after hearing counsel for the accused and the CBI. The CBI had opposed Chandolia's bail plea saying he, Raja and Behura were public servants and formed the "core sector" of conspiracy and stood on a "different footing" from those granted bail in the case.

"The core sector of conspiracy comprises these three gentlemen (Raja, Behura and Chandolia) and they fall in the same category which is different from others who are granted bail," Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit had said.

"These three gentlemen are on a different footing....It will be unrealistic to draw a parity with those released on bail," he had said. Vijay Aggarwal, counsel appearing for Chandolia, however, had contended that even the apex court has "not dissected the case and granted bail not to the individual accused but in the 2G case".