'It's a democratic process, says Swamy on Raja getting bail in 2G case

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said there is no point in keeping a person inside the jail beyond the point where he cannot interfere with the trial process and witnesses.

Commenting on former Telecom Minister A. Raja being granted bail by a Delhi court in the 2G spectrum case after serving over 15 months in jail, Swamy said: "It's a democratic process. It's well established by the Supreme Court a number of times that there are guidelines on when bail can be given. If for instance there is a serial killer and he is apprehended and he is put in jail for interrogation. Normally, they would not let him come out because if he comes out he will commit another murder."

"But here there is no scope of Raja coming out and committing another 2G spectrum scam. So, the question of his being kept inside jail beyond the point where he cannot interfere with the trial process and witnesses, at that stage he is entitled to come out on bail," he added.

When asked whether the law should be more strict, Swamy said: "No, I don't think so on this aspect. Law should be strict on ensuring that no external influence is there. Government cannot make the CBI play favourites."

A Delhi court today granted bail to Raja, who was arrested on February 2 last year, on a personal bond of Rs 20 lakh and two sureties of the like amount in the 2G spectrum case

The court while granting bail imposed conditions on Raja that he will not visit Tamil Nadu without its prior permission and will not go to the office of the Department of Telecom (DoT).

The court, in its 14-page bail order, also said that Raja would not try to influence any witnesses while on bail.

On the CBI's apprehension that if granted bail Raja may influence witnesses and tamper with evidence, the court said it addressed them by imposing conditions and restrictions on the accused.

The court noted that entire evidence in the case was documentary and was in its custody.

The timing of seeking bail is being seen as significant, as Raja waited till all other accused had been granted bail, before putting in his request for bail on grounds of "principle of parity."

However, the bail is conditional as Raja cannot visit his hometown without first taking the court's permission. He will also have to furnish two sureties of Rs 10 lakh each before he can be released.

The DMK MP had filed the bail plea on the ground that he should be treated in parity with the other 13 accused, all of whom have been granted relief by the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court and the special court trying the case.

Raja had filed the application soon after former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, who was arrested along with him on February 2 last year, was granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Raja, in his bail plea, had contended that he is "innocent" and the case against him is "false and fabricated".

Besides Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, Behura, Raja's former private secretary R K Chandolia , Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Limited MD Sanjay Chandra and Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group executives Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair are facing trial in the case. (ANI)