Raja `hiding facts`: CBI tells court

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Former Indian Telecom Minister
A Raja and Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, arrested
for their role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, were
"evasive" and "hiding real facts" during questioning, the
Indian premier investigative agency, CBI told a Delhi court on
Friday.
"They (Raja and Balwa) were evasive in answering the
questions (during interrogation) and were hiding the real
facts in the light of the facts and circumstances of the case
regarding criminal conspiracy, trail of money etc," Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said before Special Judge O P
Saini.
Remanding Balwa to judicial custody till March 3,
the judge sent him to Tihar Jail, where Raja too was lodged
on Thursday following completion of his 14-day CBI custody.
"It is submitted (by the CBI) that investigation is
not yet complete and the accused (Balwa) may be remanded to
judicial custody. Accused is remanded to judicial custody till
March 3," the judge directed.
47-year-old Raja was arrested on February two on
charges of criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of
Corruption Act in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation
scam. Later, the charges of cheating and forgery were also
slapped against them.
The court directed the jail authorities to consider
Balwa's plea for permission to have home-made food, carry
medicines and special orthopaedics mattress and pillow, as per
the jail manual.
"Balwa has moved three applications submitting that he
may be allowed home cooked food, to carry medicines as well as
special orthopaedics mattress and pillow as he is suffering
from back pain.
"Jail Superintendent is directed to consider these
applications as per jail manual," the judge said.
The agency said more witnesses are to be examined and
some more documents are yet to be recovered as the documents
submitted by a telecom company to Department of
Telecommunications for allocation of spectrum, on the basis of
which their priority was to be determined, could not be traced
yet.
"Keeping in view the veracity, seriousness and
importance of the matter, Balwa is required to be kept in
judicial custody as there is every likelihood of tampering of
documents and his winning over or threatening witnesses," CBI
said while seeking judicial remand of the accused.
The DB group managing director was produced in court
following expiry of his four-day CBI custody. Balwa was
arrested on February 8 in Mumbai and had been flown to Delhi
on a transit remand. (MORE) PTI