Former UPA telecom minister A Raja, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and 15 others were acquitted on Thursday, 21 December, of charges in the 2G spectrum "scam". Judge OP Saini read out a single-line verdict – “all acquitted of all charges”.
The judgement said that investigators "miserably failed" to prove that Raja, along with officials from companies that won the licenses for telecom services, had conspired to receive kickbacks from the sale of phone permits, causing a loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the public exchequer.
- All the accused in the case, including former telecom minister A Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, have been acquitted
- Law officers were not serious about fighting against corruption: Subramanian Swamy on the verdict
- “Finally our innocence has been proven,” said Kanimozhi after the verdict
- “Don’t treat judgment like a badge of honour,” said FM Jaitley to Congress
- Former CAG Vinod Rai’s 2010 report said that the “scam” had caused a loss of Rs 1,760,000,000,000 to the public exchequer
Acquittal in 2G Spectrum Case Validates my Rightfulness: A Raja
Court acquittal in 2G spectrum case validates my rightfulness; my actions were for benefit of masses, says former telecom minister A Raja. “The entire case is cooked-up, it has no basis,” he added.
CBI's 'Well-Choreographed' Chargesheet Had Incorrect Facts: Court
The CBI received a backhanded compliment from the special court for filing a "well choreographed chargesheet" containing incorrect facts which miserably failed to prove charges against the accused in 2G spectrum case.
I have absolutely no hesitation in holding that the prosecution (CBI) has miserably failed to prove any charge against any of the accused, made in its well choreographed chargesheet. I may add that many facts recorded in the chargesheet are factually incorrect.
Special CBI Judge OP Saini
Religiously Sat for 7 Years, No Evidence Came: Special CBI Judge
Special CBI Judge OP Saini rued that despite having "religiously" devoted seven years to 2G case, no "legally admissible evidence" was placed before him by the CBI.
For the last about seven years, on all working days, I religiously sat in the open Court from 10 am to 5 pm, awaiting for someone with some legally admissible evidence in his possession, but all in vain. Not a single soul turned up. This indicates that everybody was going by public perception created by rumour, gossip and speculation.
OP Saini
PM Modi Must Fight Against Corruption on a War Footing: Swamy
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy hit out at the 2G scam verdict saying that this is "not a setback, its an aberration as the law officers were not serious about fighting against corruption."
Swamy said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to “fight corruption on a war footing.”
Since corruption was a major issue in our poll campaign, PM Modi must fight corruption on a war footing. In 2019, the public will hold us accountable for what we have done.
Subramanian Swamy