Jailed former communications minister Andimuthu Raja is not very keen on getting out on bail because he would prefer to walk out of prison with “clean hands” in the 2G spectrum allotment controversy that has dominated national attention for over a year.
In an exclusive interview, A. Raja maintained his “innocence” and said he was concentrating on cross-examining the prosecution witnesses, but didn’t elaborate on the case which is pending before a special court of the CBI. “I want to come out of jail with clean hands rather than be released on bail,” he said in a Patiala House court during the hearing of the case Friday.
He has completed more than 14 months in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in the case that cost the DMK leader his ministerial job in November 2010. The trial has been dragging on for more than a year now with some 410 applications, including bail pleas from other accused, filed. But not a single application has been moved by the DMK MP seeking bail or to attend Parliament sessions. He was arrested February 2, 2011 by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, which is purported to have caused a huge loss to the national exchequer. He was sent to Tihar on February 17, 2011.
He said he was looking forward to conclude the trial “as early as possible”. “It will be better to seek acquittal... Trying to complete trial as early as possible. However, I could move my bail application (if the trial drags on), wait for that time,” he said. A. Raja’s nephew T. Srinivisan, who is not counselling him but assisting him in preparing his case, said the former communications minister is waiting for the bail application of former telecom secretary Sidharth Behura, who is also in Tihar Jail.