The Delhi High Court has recently expressed displeasure to a request from the CBI for an adjournment in the hearing of appeals related to the acquittals of former Telecom Minister A Raja and co-defendants in the 2G spectrum allocation case.
The court has resolved to conduct daily hearings for the appeals put forth by both the CBI and the ED starting from August 28.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma has conveyed his strong dissatisfaction regarding the adjournment request, leading to the immediate scheduling of day-to-day hearings for submissions.
Justice Sharma was informed by the CBI’s representative that the Additional Solicitor General, previously representing the CBI, has tendered his resignation. Consequently, a request for a date in late September was presented, to allow for the appointment of a specialized counsel to advocate the appeal on behalf of the agency.
Justice Sharma asked, “How will we continue like this? We can’t continue giving dates like this.”
Furthermore, the bench expressed its displeasure and stated that things could not be kept hanging like this.
The present matter pertains to the stage of granting leave to appeal.
The bench instructed the ED’s legal counsel to present arguments on the matter of granting leave to appeal. The ED’s case was informed, would be built upon the submissions of the CBI.
Therefore, the bench directed to list case after 2 weeks and stated that the matter shall be taken up on everyday basis.
Advocate Vijay Agarwal, representing several private companies, urged the court to consider an application for the release of attached properties following the acquittal of the accused.
The high court stated that it would first hear the leave to appeal.
On April 10, the Delhi High Court directed the CBI, ED, and respondents to submit their written arguments in the matter.
These appeals, initially brought forth in March 2018, have been pending in the High Court. The appeals remain in the preliminary stage of seeking permission for the appeal to proceed. The 7th Judge of the high court is overseeing these appeals.
The CBI and ED have preferred appeals against acquittals granted to former Telecom Minister A Raja, Kanimojhi Karunanidhi, and some bureaucrats and businessmen in the 2G spectrum case.
