2G Spectrum Case: Delhi HC Gives Liberty To ED To Move Application For Urgent Hearing On Appeals Filed Against The Acquittal Of A Raja And Others

The demand for urgent hearing was made orally by the Additional Solicitor General before the Single Bench of Justice Brijesh Sethi,

'You move an application seeking urgent hearing before the Registry, then we will see what to do', the court said.

Appearing for the ED, ASG Sanjay Jain informed the court that he had already concluded his arguments on leave to appeal in the CBI matter and even the Respondents had started making their submissions before the normal proceedings of the court were suspended due to the lockdown.

Mr Jain further argued that since the concerned judge who has heard this case so far is going to retire in November, the hearing in the main matter shall be expedited. In light of this, Mr Jain orally asked the court to list the hearing on this matter 3-4 times a week, 2-3 hours each. He said:

'One of the biggest trials was conducted as per the directions of the Supreme Court on the large expense of public exchequer. Therefore, the public interest lies in seeing this matter reaching its logical conclusion. Any delay in this matter would further burden the public exchequer.'

Mr Jain also submitted that he doesn't mind filing replies to the applications moved by the Respondents, however, such applications should only be entertained after concluding the hearing on leave to appeal.

In December 2017, A Raja, Kanimozhi and 17 others were acquitted by a Special CBI Judge in both the CBI and ED cases.

The Special Judge had opined that the prosecution had "miserably failed" to prove the charges against the accused persons.

Challenging the said order of the Special Judge, both the ED and the CBI had approached the Delhi High Court in March 2018