2G: Behura's bail reserved, says PM backed policy

A Delhi court today reserved its order on the bail plea of former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura, an accused in 2G spectrum scam case, who countered the conspiracy charge against him by saying he was implementing a policy backed by the Prime Minister.

Behura said he was only "doing his duty" and following the orders of Raja, who was appointed for the second term as Telecom Minister by the Prime Minister in 2009, one year after Letters of Intent (LoI), were issued.

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Special CBI Judge O P Saini reserved the order for June 3 after detailed arguments when CBI alleged Behura, who was holding the key post, cannot be let off from the charge of conspiracy.

Behura's counsel and senior advocate Aman Lekhi submitted the Prime Minister gave Raja a second term as Telecom Minister in 2009, one year after the distribution of Letters of Intent(LoI) and this shows the concurrence on the policy in the government.

CBI, however, said Behura, by virtue of holding the most important post of Secretary, had full authority to complain to the cabinet if he was not in agreeement with Raja on any policy.

"As per the service conduct rules, he (Behura) was not obliged to follow the illegal orders of the minister (Raja)," CBI said.

The argument was opposed by Behura's counsel, who asked "in a government, is there anyone more important than the Prime Minister? There cannot be."