CBI opposes Behura's bail plea

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) on Thursday opposed the bail plea of ex-telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, an accused in the 2G case, arguing instead of following the government's policy he had paid heed to that of then telecom minister A Raja.

CBI countered Behura's plea that the prime minister was informed by Raja about the process of grant of licences. The agency cited that taking the PM into confidence didn't tantamount to getting his consent for it.

"Mere informing the Prime Minister is not the basis to implement any policy saying that it is the government's policy," CBI said.

CBI claimed that Behura did not put any checks and balances on Raja's "misdeeds" during grant of licences even though he enjoyed maximum executive powers in the Department of Telecommunication ( DoT). "He (Behura) followed the policy of the minister (Raja) and not the policy of the government," CBI prosecutor A K Singh submitted before Special CBI judge O P Saini.

He said after Behura joined the DoT on January 1, 2008, he started following the policy that was non-existent till then. "Making policy is the prerogative of the government, but the secretary and other officials of any department implements it," the CBI prosecutor said.

The agency added, "...Behura acted dishonestly, did not implement the policy of the government and rather connived with the other accused to give undue advantage to companies."

The court also reserved its order on the bail plea of Cineyug Films' director Karim Morani, another accused in the case . "Put up for order for May 30," judge Saini said.

Singh argued that Morani facilitated the transaction of Rs 200 crore from D B Realty to Kalaignar TV, where DMK MP Kanimozhi has a 20% stake. According to the CBI, Morani took a Rs 6 crore kickback to facilitate the transaction.