New Delhi, Jan 2: A witness in 2G spectrum case today came under attack in a Delhi court from two key accused, including A Raja, who charged CBI with putting pressure and “tutoring” him.
The allegations were denied by both CBI and the witness Aseervatham Achary, a former aide of Raja, former Telecom Minister.
“He (Achary) comes tutored from your room (public prosecutor). If you want, I can give you photographs of it also,” Raja ‘s counsel Sushil Kumar said.
Former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, an accused in the scam, also alleged Achary “is a completely tutored witness”.
Sushil Kumar suggested Achary, former Additional Private Secretary of Raja, chose to become a false witness for CBI in the case as the DMK leader did not promote him in politics.
“You became a CBI witness under the pressure of CBI that you will also be made an accused in the case”, Kumar said while cross-examining Achary.
After Raja completed his cross examination, advocate S P Minocha, appearing for Behura, also said Achary “is a completely tutored witness. Yes he is tutored.
He made improvements in his statement in the court”.
Achary denied the allegation of the former Telecom Minister and Behura that he was tutored by CBI “to make improvement” in his statement and that he was deposing falsely.
He said “it is wrong to suggest that I am deposing falsely”.
Countering Kumar, Achary told Special CBI judge O P Saini that “it is wrong to suggest that I became a witness in this case only when CBI could not find anything to connect Raja with other accused persons. It is wrong to suggest that I was under pressure of CBI because of the possession of assets disproportionate to my known sources of income”.
He said “it is wrong to suggest that I was unhappy with A Raja as he did not promote me in politics. It is wrong to suggest that for these reasons I chose to become a false witness against him for the prosecution (CBI).
Reacting to Behura's lawyer's charge, CBI prosecutor A K Singh said “you are repeating it again and again. Is the witness not allowed to meet the public prosecutor?”
“Why do you say like this? You are crossing your limit,” a visibly agitated Singh shot back.
