The Delhi High Court has today, issued notice to former Telecom Minister A. Raja and others on a Petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking an early hearing of its appeals against their acquittal in the 2G case.
A single bench of Justice Brijesh Sethi asked the Respondents Raja and others to file their replies on the plea seeking an early hearing of ED’s appeal and listed the matter for further hearing on September 21.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, representing the ED, apprised the Court that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the matter was not heard after January 15, the day when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded its argument.
Jain said that the Appeal to be heard expeditiously as Justice Sethi will demit the office on November 30 and further added that if it will be heard afresh by another bench it will cost too much to the public exchequer.
The High Court reserved order on the pleas filed by two companies seeking to release its properties attached by the agency.
One of the pleas was filed by Conwood Construction and Developers (P) Ltd, an Accused in the 2G Prevention of Money Laundering case, seeking the release of the properties attached by the ED by furnishing an indemnity bond.
Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing on behalf of the CCDPL, submitted that the ED is not looking after the properties post its attachment and it has not paid property tax and other statutory dues which are leading diminishing the value of the properties.
Notably, the CBI and ED had moved the Delhi High Court in March 2018 against the acquittal of all accused in the 2G spectrum case which came to light in 2017.
-India Legal Bureau