Special court allows Goenka a week's exemption

Vinod Kumar Goenka, DB Realty MD facing trial in 2G case, has been allowed by Special Court for exemption from the appearing before the court for a week to take care of his business in Mumbai.

Goenka had sought permannent exemption from appearing in the court saying that his real estate business was suffering in his absence, but Special CBI Judge O P Saini exempted Goenka from personal appearance for a week, brushing aside his plea for permanent exemption.

After the court expressed its unwillingness to allow him permanent exemption from personal appearance, he withdrew his application and made a fresh request for one week's exemption on the same ground.

The court allowed Goenka's plea and gave him exemption till 25 July after CBI Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit did not object to it.

After the proceedings started in the special court, Goenka's counsel submitted that his client's business and family, including his ailing father, are in Mumbai and his client needs to go there to take care of his family and rejuvenate his business as all his projects are being delayed.

The counsel, Mukul Rohatagi, said that Goneka’s business is being managed by three others - Shahid Usman Balwa, Rajiv Aggarwal and Shahid Balwa, all of whom are accused in the case and are in the court and there was none else to manage it. He said that one of the four should be given permanent exemption from appearing in the court to manage the business.

CBI prosecutor Lalit, however, said he was opposed to Goenka’s plea for permanent exemption but did not object to his exemption for a week. He said let Goenka come to court for the hearing once in a week and he can move exemption application for the following week, which was also agreed by the accused and the court.

Goenka is facing trial along with 16 others for their alleged roles in the 2G case and are out on bail. They have been charge-sheeted by the CBI for committing various offences under the Indian Penal Code, including those of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by public servant, forgery and fabrication of evidences. They are also facing trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act.