Delhi High Court to pronounce order on Siddhartha Behura's bail plea

The Delhi High Court is likely to pronounce its order tomorrow on the bail plea of former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura, an accused in 2G spectrum allocation scam involving former Union Minister A Raja.

Justice Ajit Bharihoke, who had reserved his orders on July 21, after hearing detailed arguments on their bail applications, will pronounce the orders tomorrow at 2:15pm.

On June 4, a Delhi court had rejected the bail plea of Behura on the grounds of "enormity" of allegations and fears that he might influence witnesses.

Challenging the order of the trial court, Behura had moved the Delhi High court seeking forhthwith release on bail.

Behura had submitted before the court that he was being falsely implicated by the probe agency though he had no role to play in allotment of 2G spectrum.

Opposing Behura's bail plea, CBI had alleged the senior bureaucrat had doctored the list of telecom licence applicants to extend undue benefits to Swan Telecom.

Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit, appearing for CBI, had argued "Behura played an active role in giving licences to Swan Telecom, promoted by Shahid Usman Balwa, despite objections."

CBI's first charge sheet filed on April 2 named Behura along with others. Charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and corruption have been levelled against former Communications Minister Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, Behura and 11 others in the case. At present, all the 14 are lodged in Tihar Jail.