The Supreme Court on Tuesday concluded hearing the pleas of Essar Teleholdings Ltd and its promoters challenging the special CBI court’s jurisdiction to hold trial against them in the case arising out of the probe in the 2G spectrum scam.
The CBI said the company and its promoters Ravi and Anshuman Ruia were trying to scuttle the trial that was in an advanced stage, as the firm and <g data-gr-id="16">Ruias</g> challenged the magisterial court’s jurisdiction saying they have not been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).
A Bench, comprising Chief Justice HL Dattu and Justices AK Sikri and R Nariman, reserved the order after Essar’s counsel and senior advocate Harish Salve submitted that their case should be heard afresh by the magistrate’s court since they were charged with the offence of cheating under the IPC and CBI had not made out a case of corruption under PCA. The CBI also opposed their second plea for <g data-gr-id="12">joint</g> trial with other accused in the main 2G spectrum scam case involving former telecom minister A Raja, saying this will amount to further delaying of criminal proceedings.