Don't drag Chidambaram into 2G case, CBI tells apex court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday opposed a plea by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy seeking a probe against Home Minister P. Chidambaram for his role as the then finance minister in deciding the second generation (2G) spectrum pricing.

The agency has maintained that the probe into the multi-crore scam during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A. Raja was complete.

Swamy sought the probe alleging that Chidambaram, the then Finance Minister, was party to conspiracy with Raja in deciding the price for spectrum.

At the outset, both the CBI and the Centre questioned the maintainability of Swamy's plea saying he has filed a similar application in the trial court and the issue has to be decided by the Special CBI Court.

The CBI said that Supreme Court cannot give such an order and it for the trial court to take decision on the issue.

"Questions of any further investigation or addition of accused in the case have to be decided by the trial court and not by this court," senior advocate K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, submitted before a bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly.

"Investigation is complete in 2G scam (during the tenure of Raja) and framing of charges is to be decided by the trial court. If the trial court finds that there is any wrong doer then it can add the person in the list of accused," he said questioning the jurisdiction of the apex court to entertain Swamy's plea.