2G scam: Court dismisses Vinod Goenka's pleas to go abroad

A special court on Wednesday dismissed the pleas of Swan Telecom promoter Vinod Goenka, facing trial in 2G spectrum and money laundering cases, to go abroad observing that such appeals put "unnecessary strain" on court's time and resources.

"I also find that such applications are being filed frequently and on many an occasion, after seeking permission, the same is not availed of.

This results in the wastage of court time as disposal of single application requires one and a half hour of quality time including filing of reply, recording of order sheets, hearing of arguments and passing an order," Special CBI Judge O P Saini said.

"This puts unnecessary strain on court's precious time and resources," the court said adding that two pleas filed by Goenka in the two cases were without merit and aimed at "wasting" the court's time.

In his pleas, Goenka had sought court's permission to travel to the United States and the United Kingdom from April 6 to April 14 for business meetings.

The court noted that Goenka was earlier granted permission to travel to USA from March 18 to March 24, but he has now claimed that he could not avail relief on account of delay in grant of visa.

Both CBI and Enforcement Directorate opposed Goenka's pleas on the ground that they were vague and aimed at wasting the court's time. Apart from Goenka, former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, DMK leader M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) promoter Shahid Usman Balwa and 14 others, including nine firms, are facing trial in the money laundering case probed by the ED.

In the first case probed by CBI, Raja, Kanimozhi, Shahid Balwa, Goenka and others are facing trial for criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, cheating and other offences punishable under the provisions of IPC and under Prevention of Corruption Act.