New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today gave CBI two week's time to respond to Sidharth Behura's bail plea in connection with the 2G scam.
Apart from Behura, the court was also hearing the plea of former Telecom Secretary and A Raja aide RK Chandolia to set aside Delhi High Court order on his bail.
Though the High Court cancelled his bail, Mr Chandolia had already been released on bail and the Supreme Court later stayed the High Court order.
The CBI told the Supreme Court that it needed more time to file its response on the two cases. Behura's lawyer, meanwhile, told court that CBI is delaying the case and his client may be given interim bail.
The case will be next heard in the Supreme Court on March 13.
The Delhi High Court had last month denied bail to Mr Behura, who has been in jail since February last year. The court said that there were many crucial witnesses from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) who Mr Behura could influence. He could also tamper with the evidence, the court said in its December 16 order.
The court added that Mr Behura's case was different from that of the other accused because he was a public servant and hence, faced more serious charges along with Mr Raja. It said that being a public servant, Mr Behura was in a position of authority and commanded public trust.
Mr Behura was among the 14 people arrested for the 2G scam allegedly masterminded by Mr Raja when he headed the Telecom Ministry in 2008. Twelve of them are out on bail and Mr Behura is one of the two accused persons still in jail, the other being Mr Raja himself.
(With inputs from PTI)