Balwa rubbishes CBI's claim of bribing A Raja

NEW DELHI: Shahid Balwa, an accused in 2G scam, on Monday termed as "ridiculous and absurd" CBI's allegation that he, despite being a "blue-eyed boy" of the former Telecom Minister A Raja, paid Rs 200 crore bribe to DMK-run Kalaignar TV for undue favours.

"It is not the case that Shahid acted for everybody. What about others? Did they get the reward free? What minister (Raja) is he that he got only his blue-eyed baby to pay money for all"?

"Look at all the other beneficiaries. They are greater than us in size, power, strength. May be, because of that, they are not touched by CBI," Majeed Memon, counsel for Balwa, told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

CBI alleged Balwa, whose firm Swan Telecom got 2G licenses, paid Rs 200 crore bribe to Kalaignar TV through his various firms.