Raja lawyer asks CBI to clarify whether probe is over

Former telecommunication minister A. Raja's lawyer on Friday told a special court in Delhi that he would not participate in the hearings till the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) clarifies whether it had completed its probe against the jailed minister.

''I am taking a very clear stand that till the time CBI files an affidavit or says it on oath here that the investigation is complete or going on, I am not going to participate in the proceedings of this case,'' Sushil Kumar, Raja's lawyer, told the special court.

The CBI on Monday filed additional charges of criminal breach of trust by a public servant against Raja and 16 others accused in the case.

They include former telecom secretary Siddartha Behura and the former minister's aide R K Chandolia. The CBI also pressed for charges of criminal breach read with criminal conspiracy against the other 14 co-accused, including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham MP Kanimozhi, daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi.

The charge of criminal breach of trust is a non-bailable offence and attracts punishment ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

The special court had asked the accused to file their reply to the fresh charges by the CBI by Friday. But Raja's lawyer, Kumar, told special CBI court judge O P Saini that the agency had on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it was still probing the role of several individuals and companies – including Reliance Communications and its chairman, Anil Ambani – in the telecom scam.