Premature to act against A Raja in 2G scam, says Centre

The Delhi high court has dismissed a plea seeking direction to the prime minister on prosecution of telecom minister A Raja, accused of irregularities in allocation of 2G spectrum.

The decision came after the Centre said it was premature to take a decision as the CBI probe into the multi-crore-rupee scam was still under way.

“In our opinion when the matter is being investigated by CBI, it is not in the fitness of things to pass any order,” a bench headed by chief justice Dipak Misra said. “We are not inclined to interfere in the matter.”

Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy had moved the high court seeking a direction to the PM to act on the complaint against Raja.

The complaint is gathering dust at the prime minister’s office (PMO) for two years.

Appearing for the government, solicitor general (SG) Gopal Subramanium said a first information report had been already filed in the case against unknown officials and raids conducted to find the culprits.

“It is premature at this stage to say yes or no on the complaint against the minister,” he said. Referring to a communication by the PMO, Swamy said that the PM refused to decide on his complaint saying the CBI probe into the scam was still on. “The government should say how long it will take to decide on the issue as Rs60,000 crore is involved,” Swamy said. But the SG said that the sanctioning authority must be provided credible evidence before taking a decision.