2-G scam: Raja, Kanimozhi charged with criminal conspiracy

A special CBI court in Delhi today charged former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi and 15 others, including 12 individuals and three companies, with criminal conspiracy in the allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008.

The accused have been charged with cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery, accepting illegal gratification and criminal breach of public trust.

While all 17 accused have been charged under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), Raja, his former private secretary R K Chandolia and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura have been charged under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) as well.

If convicted, the three along with Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, face a maximum term of life imprisonment, as the maximum punishment for criminal breach of trust is life term while the minimum punishment is seven years in prison.

"You all committed an offence punishable under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) 468 and 471 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code and section 7 or in alternative section 11 read with section 12 and 13 (2) read with 13 (1b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and within my cognisance," Special CBI judge OP Saini said in his 700-page order.

The CBI court also charged the accused with cheating, criminal conspiracy and abetment as also taking bribes.