Home Minister Shinde takes time out to meet 2G scam accused Shahid Balwa
22 March 2014 11:50 PM GMT
Balwa was reportedly seeking the minister’s intervention to expedite reply to an RTI application filed by him. Balwa, the promoter of DB Realty, said he met Shinde in connection with an RTI application pending before the home ministry for long. Confirming the report, Shinde said: ‘Yes, he met me. He wanted my intervention in some matter. I told him if enquiry is on against you, I can’t intervene. In any case, I told him to come back after 29th since I am leaving for my constituency now.’
Even as the Congress-ruled UPA government is fighting a losing battle of perception on the issue of probity in public life, Balwa’s meeting with Shinde is set to further damage the party’s image. ‘While there is no legal bar on such meetings, it would be morally incorrect on Shinde’s part to meet him,’ said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
Former home secretary RK Singh had alleged that Shinde had saved Balwa in an IPL betting scam. ‘Shinde prevented Delhi Police from interrogating a businessman in the IPL match fixing case. Agencies suspect this businessman has links with underworld don Dawood,’ Singh had alleged, hinting clearly at Balwa.
The CBI had arrested Balwa on 9 February, 2011, on the allegation that DB group had transferred 2 billion rupees to a media company owned by members of DMK party. Former telecom minister A Raja allegedly helped Swan bag licences for 13 circles, including Mumbai and Delhi, for 15.37 billion rupees. DB Realty is one of the companies that bagged 2G licenses in 2008 by floating Swan Telecom. The CBI had also arrested two executives on 29 March, 2011 including the brother of Shahid Balwa, Asif. Delhi High Court on 29 November granted bail to Shahid Balwa and other undertrials.
Even as the Congress-ruled UPA government is fighting a losing battle of perception on the issue of probity in public life, Balwa’s meeting with Shinde is set to further damage the party’s image. ‘While there is no legal bar on such meetings, it would be morally incorrect on Shinde’s part to meet him,’ said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
Former home secretary RK Singh had alleged that Shinde had saved Balwa in an IPL betting scam. ‘Shinde prevented Delhi Police from interrogating a businessman in the IPL match fixing case. Agencies suspect this businessman has links with underworld don Dawood,’ Singh had alleged, hinting clearly at Balwa.
The CBI had arrested Balwa on 9 February, 2011, on the allegation that DB group had transferred 2 billion rupees to a media company owned by members of DMK party. Former telecom minister A Raja allegedly helped Swan bag licences for 13 circles, including Mumbai and Delhi, for 15.37 billion rupees. DB Realty is one of the companies that bagged 2G licenses in 2008 by floating Swan Telecom. The CBI had also arrested two executives on 29 March, 2011 including the brother of Shahid Balwa, Asif. Delhi High Court on 29 November granted bail to Shahid Balwa and other undertrials.
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