2G scam: SC stays Delhi HC order on RK Chandolia bail

NEW DELHI: In a breather to former telecom minister A Raja's aide and accused in 2G spectrum scam case, RK Chandolia, the Supreme Court has put on hold the Delhi High Court order staying the operation of the bail granted to him in the case.

The Special CBI court had granted him bail, but the HC taking a suo motu cognisance of it had suspended the trial court order. The HC had said it was yet to pass its order on the bail plea of another accused, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, in the case. The letting off Chandolia on bail may have a bearing on it.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi on behalf of the petitioner told the apex court that this was an extraordinary case. It was unheard of that the trial court order would have a bearing on the HC. A bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice SS Nijjar and Justice J Chelameswar, however, was initially not inclined to hear the matter on the ground that it should be heard by the bench which had granted bail to five corporate executives in 2G case.

But Rohatgi informed the bench that the HC may pass the order and cancel the bail granted to the petitioner, Chandolia.

At this, the SC pass its interim order and suspended the high court order. "Let this appeal be put before the Chief Justice of India for placing it before the appropriate bench and till then the interim order of December 2, 2011, of the Delhi HC shall remain stayed," the bench said.

It added, "Since applications of similar nature arising from similar circumstances relating to 2G scam had been taken up and considered by a bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi, this appeal should also be placed before that bench".