2G: Delhi court summons CAG as witness

A Delhi court has summoned Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India Vinod Rai to appear before it on February 5 as a witness on a complaint by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, seeking the prosecution of the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja, in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Special CBI Judge Pradeep Chaddah also asked another CAG official, R.P. Singh, to appear at the Tis Hazari court on that day to depose in the case. Dr. Swamy sought the summoning of seven officials, in all, from agencies such as the CAG, the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, in an application filed on January 17.

The court on January 7 opined that Dr. Swamy’s complaint, filed on December 15, was “maintainable.” Regarding Dr. Swamy’s prayer that he be appointed Public Prosecutor under Section 5(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Judge Chaddah asked him to first finish his deposition as complainant and chief witness, after which the prayer could be taken up.

Dr. Swamy, in his 375-page complaint, listed the CAG report as “supporting and fully endorsing” the prima facie case of his complaint against Mr. Raja.