CBI against probe into Chidambaram's role into spectrum allocation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigating the 2G spectrum scam has opposed Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy's plea for initiating a probe into the alleged role of home minister P Chidambaram in the pricing and allocation of precious radio spectrum in 2008, when he was the finance minister.

CBI, which ended its probe into the 2G scam, said the special trial court was holding hearing on the framing of charges and the apex court could not at this stage direct the agency to undertake a fresh probe into the matter, counsel for the CBI said.

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, told a bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly that Swamy's application seeking "investigation of the case in a particular manner or disposal of a case in a particular manner is not maintainable".

Venugopal told the court that "what is being argued by Dr. Swamy was beyond the jurisdiction of this (apex) court" and "I will contest its maintainability".

Swamy had said that the "CBI was determined to give clean chit to Chidambaram."

Justice Ganguly, however, asked Venugopal: "Are you questioning the jurisdiction of the apex court to issue direction on the functioning of regulatory authorities?"