2G case: HC notice to CBI on ex-telecom secy's bail plea

The Delhi High Court today sought CBI's response on the bail plea of former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, arrested for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum case.

Issuing notice to CBI, Justice Shali also asked the probe agency to file a status report by December 1, the date on which the bail pleas of other five accused including DMK MP Kanimozhi are also slated for hearing.

Behura approached the high court, through senior counsel Aman Lekhi, challenging denial of bail to him by the special CBI court which had refused him the relief saying the charges against him and other accused were of "very serious nature".

Behura, in his bail application, pleaded to the court that the trial in the case has already started and there cannot be any fear of tampering of evidence or influencing witnesses by him. He also said the apex court earlier, while refusing bail to Kanimozhi, had asked the accused to approach the court for bail after charges were framed in the case.

The trial court had dismissed Behura's bail plea on November 3. Behura, along with former Telecom Minister A Raja and latter's Private Secretary R K Chandolia, was arrested on February 2, this year.

Besides Behura and Kanimozhi, the four others who have moved the high court against the special court order denying them the bail, are DMK-run Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal and Bollywood producer Karim Morani.