2G scam: Court to decide on Balwa’s plea today

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court is likely to decide on Friday whether to allow Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa, one of the 14 accused and arrested in the 2G scam, to attend a board meeting in Mumbai on June 15.

Special CBI judge OP Saini reserved the order till June 10 after the CBI opposed Balwa’s plea for permission to attend an extraordinary general body meeting of Etisalat DB, a joint venture between Balwa’s DB Realty and UAE’s Etisalat, in Mumbai, because he may influence witnesses. “If accused (Balwa) is allowed to visit Mumbai, there are chances of his contacting and winning over witnesses,” CBI counsel Raman Kumar told the court on Thursday.

The counsel further argued that if Balwa were not allowed to attend the meeting by going to Mumbai, no rights will be curtailed and he can attend the meeting through his proxy.