Enforcement Directorate opposes bail pleas of A Raja, Kanimozhi and others in 2G case

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) today opposed in a Delhi court the bail pleas of ex-Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and others, accused in the 2G scam related money laundering case, saying that the matter involves commission of "grave economic offence" by them.

ED, in its separate replies filed before Special CBI Judge O P Saini, vehemently opposed the bail pleas of the accused saying there exists a "prime facie" case against them, which in all probability will "result in conviction".

".... from the documents and material evidence filed with this court, there is sufficient case to believe that all the accused are guilty of the offences with which they are severally and individually charged," ED said while responding to the bail plea of Raja.

In its replies, filed through Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta, the ED said the case involves "commission of grave economic offence by the accused causing enormous loss to the public exchequer and laundering the proceeds of crime (which too are substantial) through a series of layering transactions solely with a view to lend a colour of legitimacy....".

The court has now fixed June 3 for hearing arguments on the bail pleas and on the issue of framing of charges.

In its replies, ED also cited Supreme Court judgements saying it revealed that stringent conditions are needed for grant of bail in cases of economic offences.

Regarding Raja's role, it contended that he had subverted telecom policy to favour certain pre-identified persons, who made windfall profits at the cost of the public exchequer.

"In lieu of illegal benefits, accused in conspiracy caused a transfer of a sum of Rs 200 crores, through several layers of front companies, which according to the documents submitted is in fact a bribe paid for the illegal benefits," it claimed.

The money laundering case relates to the 2G scam in which the DMK-run Kalaignar TV was allegedly paid Rs 200 crore by the promoters of Swan Telecom.