SC asks 2G PMLA accused to raise grievances before trial court

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the accused in 2G scam related money laundering case to raise their grievances on the charges framed against them before the trial court during the ongoing final arguments in the matter.

A bench headed by Justice J S Khehar, which kept pending their petition challenging framing of charges against them in the case, granted liberty to the accused to mention the matter before the secretary general of the apex court on the same day when judgement is delivered by the special 2G court.

"List for hearing after the judgement is rendered by the trial court. Liberty is granted to the petitioners to mention before the secretary general on the very date the judgement is rendered," the bench also comprising Justice C Nagappan.

The court order came during hearing of the petitions filed by Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka and various other accused, including some firms, who are facing trial in the money laundering case along with former telecom minister A Raja and others.

During the hearing, advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who appeared for the accused, said the petitions have been pending for over one and half years in the apex court and if they are convicted they will be going straight to jail without the matter being decided.

Referring to the order passed by the Special Court while framing charges against the accused, the counsel said the judge had relied upon the statements of accused which were recorded before the investigating officer during the probe to put his clients on trial.

To this, the bench said these issues can be raised by the accused before the trial court during the proceedings.

"Since the impugned order has been passed before recording of evidence, it shall be open to the petitioners to re-agitate all the issues before the trial court," the bench said in its order.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, who has been apppointed as special public prosecutor by the apex court in the case, told the bench that the case is at the stage of final arguments and the plea should be dismissed.