2G scam: SC to hear ED deputy director Rajeshwar on Thursday

The Supreme Court today said that would not pass an order in the case of the deputy director of the Enforcement Directorate Rajeshwar Singh over the 2G spectrum scam before hearing him.

"We will hear him if he wants to continue [in his post] or not. After hearing him we will pass the order," a bench comprising Justices H L Dattu, S A Bobde and A M Sapre said, while posting the matter for hearing on Thursday 4 September.

The issue of Singh's continuance in office was raised by BJP leader Subramanium Swamy, who said that despite the apex court's 1 May order Singh has not been reinstated into the investigation team and it was not known "what powerful elements are working" that he is out of the probe.

"We will hear him if he wants to continue or not. After hearing him we will pass the order," the bench said.

Swamy was supported by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who said the money-laundering probe associated with the 2G scam is yet to be completed, and Singh had earlier sought to withdraw himself from the investigation team as attempts were being made to ''destroy'' the case.

Swamy was one of the petitioners on whose plea some 122 telecom operating licences were scrapped by the apex court, which is monitoring the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the ED, said the case was ''different'', and placed before the bench a note in which Singh expressed his desire to go on study leave.

The bench perused the copy of his letter written to the ED in which he said he would be available for the probe whenever required. "Because of his option he has been released by the authority," the bench said. However, it said since it concerns an officer it would like to hear him.

It was reported that Singh had taken a year-long 'study leave' apparently owing to lack of clarity over his continuance in the agency.

During the hearing, the bench noted that he has gone on leave to pursue a degree in law. The apex court on 1 May had ordered that Singh be not taken away from the ongoing probe in 2G cases and directed that he will continue with the investigation till completion of trial.

The order was passed after it was alleged that Singh was being transferred to his parent cadre in Uttar Pradesh.