CBI assures SC completion of 2G scam probe by March 2011

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today told the Supreme Court that it would complete its investigation into the alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation and file charges by March 2011.

CBI's senior counsel KK Venugopal told a Supreme Court bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly that the CBI has so far analysed 3,500 pages of a transcript of taped telephone conversations that runs into 5,800 pages.

There were also 6,000 files running into 80,000 pages, he said.

Venugopal said the CBI had stated all these in its affidavit to show how fast the agency moved, the senior counsel said.

Venugopal wanted the court to look into "what is the law and how far the court enjoys the jurisdiction" in monitoring investigations by the CBI than go into the merit of the case.

Appearing for the petitioner Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), senior counsel Prashant Bhushan said the CBI, in fact, took one year to file the first information report (FIR) in the 2G spectrum scandal.