Clean chit to Indian politicians in scam
I have felt somewhat vindicated all along even prior to this judgment because the beneficial results of my actions are evident to and being enjoyed by the nation’s public, especially the poor. — A. Raja
new delhi — India’s former telecoms minister was cleared on Thursday of his alleged role in a multi-billion dollar fraud that ballooned into one of the country’s biggest-ever political scandals.
A special court in New Delhi acquitted A. Raja of corruption and also dropped charges against a slew of other bureaucrats and corporate executives implicated in the 2008 scandal that cost the state billions in lost revenue. Judge OP Saini said India’s federal investigators, who brought the explosive charges against the highprofile defendants, could not prove allegations of criminality.
“I have absolutely no hesitation in holding that (the) prosecution has miserably failed to prove any charge against any accused,” Saini told a packed courtroom. —
new delhi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have just lost his most-used political weapon — his anti-corruption crusade.
A special court in New Delhi acquitted former telecommunications minister A. Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi in India’s biggest graft case, 2G scam, which federal investigators alleged had cost the government as much as Rs309.84 billion ($4.8 billion). All others involved in sale of airwave licences in 2008 were also acquitted.
“This is a very awkward moment for Prime Minister Modi — his entire campaign was built around allegations about this multi-billion scam and that the previous government was corrupt,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst and author of a biography on Modi.
Judge O. P. Saini said India’s federal investigators, Central Bureau of Investigation, who brought the explosive charges against the highprofile defendants, could not prove allegations of criminality.
“Many facts recorded in the chargesheet are factually incorrect, like the Finance Secretary strongly recommending revision of entry fee, deletion of clause of draft Letter of Intent (LoI) by Raja, recommendation of TRAI for entry fees...
“I have absolutely no hesitation in holding that (the) prosecution has miserably failed to prove any charge against any accused,” Saini told a packed courtroom.
Raja, who appeared in court alongside the other accused, smiled after the verdict as his supporters let off firecrackers outside.
The CBI said it would read the full judgement before considering any further action.
The so-called “2G spectrum scam” came to light in 2010 when a government auditor estimated it cost treasury as much as $39 billion in lost revenues — equal to India’s defence budget.
India’s then-ruling Congress party was accused of under-pricing licences and favouring certain firms during the tender process, seriously damaging the administration of former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
In 2012, India’s top court cancelled 122 licences for eight firms amid allegations of bribery and wholesale fraud.
Time Magazine in 2011 included the scam on a list of historic scandals alongside “Watergate” that brought down US President Richard Nixon in 1974. Analysts say the fallout weakened the Congress party and contributed to its heavy defeat at the 2014 general elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won that poll in a landslide, campaigning in part on a pledge to clean up corruption.
Singh, who was not linked to the scandal but was accused of turning a blind eye as prime minister, said the Congress party finally stood vindicated.
“I am glad that the court has announced unambiguously that all this massive propaganda... was being done against the UPA (Congress-led alliance) without any foundation,” he told reporters after the verdict. Senior Congress politician Shashi Tharoor said it was clear that “innocent people have been wronged”.
“Justice has worked as it is supposed to work in our country,” he said. But top officials from the ruling BJP called for an appeal.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Congress should not treat this verdict as “a badge of honour”.
“That this was a corrupt, dishonest policy has already been held by the Supreme Court,” he told reporters.
“This is a huge setback for BJP’s anti-corruption plank,” said Arati Jerath, a New Delhi-based author and political analyst. “They have lost a major political weapon and now have to re-strategise for 2019.” —
i have absolutely no hesitation in holding that (the) prosecution has miserably failed to prove any charge against any accused. O.P. Saini, Special judge
congress leaders are treating this judgment as some kind of a badge of honour and a certification that it was an honest policy. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister
i don’t want to boast anything...i am glad that the court has pronounced unambiguously that all these massive propaganda that has been against the UPa was without any foundation. Manmohan Singh, ex-PM
We sold the spectrum at less price so that the consumers could get cheaper call rates... Now the present govt has the policy of filling the...coffers and hence they sold the spectrum at higher price. Shashi Tharoor, Congress leader
it was a harrowing experience to be accused of something which you haven’t done and being accused of a corruption that you have never been a part of. Kanimozhi, DMK MP
One thing is clear... the allegation of a major scam involving the highest levels of government was never true and not correct and that has been established. P. Chidambaram, ex-finance minister
They [the bJP] have lost a major political weapon and now have to re-strategise for 2019 Arati Jerath, political analyst