2G case accused: CBI tutoring witnesses in its chamber

The defence counsel said that despite its assurance to the court that it would not tutor witnesses before deposition, CBI had done it again.

By PTI | Updated: Jan 18, 2012, 07.35 PM IST

NEW DELHI: The high-profile accused in 2G spectrum allocation on Wednesday accused CBI in a Delhi court of tutoring witnesses before their deposition while the agency said it was their right to interact with them to check their credentials before they depose.

The allegation was made by counsel for various 2G case accused, including RDAG corporate honchos Surendra Pipara and Gautam Doshi, who contended before Special Judge O P Saini that CBI had called witness Ashish Tambawala to its chamber in the court premises to tutor him before his deposition.

The defence counsel said that despite its assurance to the court that it would not tutor witnesses before deposition, CBI had done it again.

"Despite CBI's assurance given to the court earlier, the witness (Tambawala) was called inside (the prosecutor's chamber) and he was talking to investigating officer for almost 20 minutes. They (CBI) have tutored the witness in the chamber. We are taking strong objection to it," the defence counsel said.

"You (judge) can read between the lines what is happening here. This is a serious issue and the court should take a serious note of it," said A H Ponda, counsel for Pipara.

CBI prosecutor A K Singh, however, said the agency has the right to interact with prosecution witnesses.

"This is prosecution witness and I have control over the witness. I have authority to know the credentials of witness, as to from where he has come and whether he is in a position to depose before the court," the prosecutor said, adding "who are you (defence counsel) to say that I have tutored the witness?"

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