BJP leader Balbir Punj welcomes Supreme Court verdict in 2G case

New Delhi, Jan 31 (ANI): Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict in a 2G case petition filed by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj dubbed the decision as a slap on the face of the Central Government.

"BJP welcomes the Supreme Court judgement. In fact, the judgement is a slap on the face of Manmohan Singh's government," Punj told media here.

Punj said the court hearing could implicate other high-ranking government officials involved with the case.

"This judgement will definitely have a bearing on the 2G case and so far only A. Raja has been sent to jail and other people who occupy even more important posts in government and were equally responsible, may be even more responsible for this horrible corruption case running into rupees one lakh 76 thousand crores. I am sure this latest judgment will help the law to catch up with them also," Punj added.

He further hoped the court hearing would have a far-reaching impact on the nationwide fight against corruption.

"It is a judgement which will have far reaching consequences in citizens' fight against corruption and in empowering the citizens," Punj said.

The apex court had earlier in the day deliberated on Swamy's petition against the PMO in the 2G case and added that public officials must decide within three months on applications seeking permission to prosecute government authorities.

A special bench of Justices G. S. Singhvi and A. K. Ganguly said there should be a set time frame, and added that all matters of sanction should be decided within three months.

"If consultations are required, then another one month can be taken. If in four months the authority does not give sanction, then it shall be deemed that a sanction has been given," the bench said.

Swamy had moved the apex court in on November 24, 2010 alleging a delay by the PMO to give him sanction to file a case against former telecom minister A Raja, who is accused of being involved in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The telecom scam, one of India's biggest graft cases ever, may have cost 39.57 billion dollars in expected revenue to the public exchequer as per the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). (ANI)