Raja promises not to escape, but is told he can't attend Supreme Court

New Delhi: Former Telecom Minister A Raja has been told he cannot attend Monday's hearing in the Supreme Court on the 2G scam that he allegedly masterminded.  A special court that's handling the 2G scam in Delhi turned down his request this morning.

Mr Raja was arrested in February for selling telecom licenses and second-generation or 2G spectrum in 2008 at throwaway prices to ineligible companies. The Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI's investigation on the scam. A special court - headed by Judge OP Saini  - handles the daily hearings related to the charges against Mr Raja and several executives of telecom companies who have also been arrested for conspiring with the former minister.

Mr Raja believes that he should be allowed to assist his lawyer in the Supreme Court because he says he knows best the details of the telecom deals that are now under question.

While dismissing that argument, the judge today said, "No requisition has been received from  the Supreme Court for Raja's appearance. So he can't be allowed to go to the Supreme Court without any prior direction."

Mr Raja's lawyer had suggested that he does not pose a flight risk, and could be taken to the Supreme Court for hearings in a police van. " He will not escape.  The Supreme Court  is a high security zone," his lawyer offered in court.

Mr Raja has also objected to the fact that after the CBI told Judge OP Saini that it had completed its investigation against him, the agency introduced new charges against the former minister.  Latee last month, the CBI added "criminal breach of public trust" in the case against Mr Raja.   The maximum punishment for this crime is life imprisonment.