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No bail for Behura; Raja faces similar fate
With Delhi High Court refusing bail to former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, it appears to be curtains for former Telecom Minister A Raja too, as the ruling will have a bearing on his fate.
Justice VK Shali rejected Behura’s bail, saying he was the ‘perpetrator’ of the illegal designs of Raja and would not claim benefit of parity with 10 others released on bail.
Earlier, there were strong indications from the trial court that if Behura gets bail, Raja too would apply before Special CBI Judge OP Saini, who is trying the 2G case.
One of Raja’s counsels was also seen carrying a bail application. Shali put paid to the plans.
The court accepted the CBI’s plea that public servants be put under ‘stricter’ scrutiny. “Behura being a public servant is required to act differently,” said Shali, who had earlier granted bail to DMK MP Kanimozhi and five others.
The court noted, “A public servant is under a greater obligation to discharge his functions as a holder of public trust with transparency, probity and to watch the interests of the public exchequer which, he failed to do so.”
It added that the nature of evidence against Behura was ‘very serious’ and if offences were proved, it would entail life term under section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC.
Though there was no threat of Behura fleeing, “but certainly, there is a reasonable apprehension or likelihood of him influencing witnesses,” according to the judge.
The court also noted that Behura played a key role in getting some DoT officials transferred who ‘withstood like a rock’ and did not accede to the wishes of the core conspirators. It rejected Behura’s submission that he was a scapegoat.
It also rejected Behura’s plea that he should be granted bail to take care of his wife, who is suffering from cancer.
With Delhi High Court refusing bail to former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, it appears to be curtains for former Telecom Minister A Raja too, as the ruling will have a bearing on his fate.
Justice VK Shali rejected Behura’s bail, saying he was the ‘perpetrator’ of the illegal designs of Raja and would not claim benefit of parity with 10 others released on bail.
Earlier, there were strong indications from the trial court that if Behura gets bail, Raja too would apply before Special CBI Judge OP Saini, who is trying the 2G case.
One of Raja’s counsels was also seen carrying a bail application. Shali put paid to the plans.
The court accepted the CBI’s plea that public servants be put under ‘stricter’ scrutiny. “Behura being a public servant is required to act differently,” said Shali, who had earlier granted bail to DMK MP Kanimozhi and five others.
The court noted, “A public servant is under a greater obligation to discharge his functions as a holder of public trust with transparency, probity and to watch the interests of the public exchequer which, he failed to do so.”
It added that the nature of evidence against Behura was ‘very serious’ and if offences were proved, it would entail life term under section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC.
Though there was no threat of Behura fleeing, “but certainly, there is a reasonable apprehension or likelihood of him influencing witnesses,” according to the judge.
The court also noted that Behura played a key role in getting some DoT officials transferred who ‘withstood like a rock’ and did not accede to the wishes of the core conspirators. It rejected Behura’s submission that he was a scapegoat.
It also rejected Behura’s plea that he should be granted bail to take care of his wife, who is suffering from cancer.
