2G: Court allows Behura to appear before JPC

New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court hearing the 2G spectrum allocation scam Friday allowed former telecom secretary Siddhrath Behura to appear and depose before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the scam.

Special CBI judge O.P. Saini granted Behura exemption from personal appearance before the court April 11 and 18 to facilitate his appearance before the JPC.

"A letter has been received from the jail superintendent accompanied by photocopies of letters received from the JPC and accused Behura to the effect that oral evidence of accused Behura is to be recorded by JPC on Wednesday, April 11th and Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 at 11 a.m. in committee room, Parliament House, New Delhi," judge Saini said.

The court directed the jail superintendent to ensure Behura's presence before the JPC, while asking Behura's counsel to remain present and participate in the court proceedings.

According to the government auditor, the 2G scam, allegedly masterminded by former telecom minister A. Raja, pertained to a biased distribution of mobile airwaves and operating licences, in lieu of kickbacks, to telecom firms that could have cost the treasury up to Rs.1.76 lakh crore in lost revenue.

Nineteen individuals and six companies are accused in the case. Except for Raja and Behura, all other arrested accused have been released on bail.