2G case: HC dismisses plea challenging Centre’s decision-making process relating to CBI appeal

New Delhi, November 23

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed various pleas challenging the decision-making process behind the Centre’s approval to the CBI to file an appeal against the acquittal of 2G scam accused, including former telecom minister A Raja.

Justice Brijesh Sethi said the appeal was duly filed by the CBI.

The judge, who will demit the office on November 30, released the appeals from his court and said subject to the orders of the Chief Justice, they will be listed before another bench on December 1.

The high court also rejected the prayer by some of the acquitted individuals seeking to direct the government to place on record the documents containing the process to be followed before taking a decision to file an appeal.

It held that the government was not under any obligation to place on record the approval letters for filing an appeal.

The high court had in October commenced day-to-day hearing on CBI’s ‘leave to appeal’ against the acquittal of all individuals and firms.

After finishing submissions in the CBI case, the high court would have taken up the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering case in which all the accused were acquitted by the special court.

However, the acquitted individuals and firms kept filing various applications and petitions in between.

Leave to appeal is a formal permission granted by a court to a party to challenge a decision in a higher court.

A special court had on December 21, 2017, acquitted Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and others in the CBI and the ED cases related to the 2G spectrum allocation scam. PTI