New Delhi, Wednesday, October 05, 2011: Jailed former telecom minister A Raja, the prime accused in the 2G spectrum case, has filed a petition in the trial court seeking appearance in the apex court since it is monitoring the 2G spectrum allocation case, according to media reports.

On September 30, Raja contended in a special court that he will participate in the trial only when the CBI clearly explains whether it has completed its investigation against him. Raja’s lawyer Sushil Kumar has refused to file a reply to charges of criminal breach of public trust while asking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the probe against him in the scam has been completed or not.

Raja’s counsel told CBI special judge O P Saini that”till the agency declares that the investigation is closed, I will not argue before this court. I will participate in this trial only once the probe is over”.

The probe agency on Sept 26 approached the court to frame fresh charges against the 17 accused, including Raja.

The probe agency asked the court for permission to frame charges for criminal breach of trust by a public servant against Raja, his former aide R K Chandolia, and former telecom secretary Siddartha Behura.

Criminal breach of trust is a non-bailable offence with punishment that stretches from 10 years to life.

The agency also pressed charges of criminal breach read with criminal conspiracy against the remaining 14 co-accused, including Raja’s party colleague and DMK MP Kanimozhi. The other 14 co-accused include three companies.

(News agency)