The city government and Tihar Jail authorities today told the Delhi High court that Asif Balwa, an accused in the 2G spectrum case, cannot be allowed to use iPad in jail.
"It is not possible to ensure that iPad may not be used as a communication device. Removal of some features from it does not ensure that other large number of applications available are rendered unusable," Delhi government told Justice S. Muralidhar.
The court after going through the detail note submitted by jail authorities, however, allowed Asif to suggest an alternative device through which no communication is possible. "The petitioner (Asif) will suggest alternative device whcih can be used only for reading files. The officers of Tihar Jail will again examine the alternative device," the court said.
Vijay Agarwal, counsel for Asif, also sought the court's permission to be allowed to suggest an alternative device. "I am not in love with I-Pad. They can provide me a dead laptop," Agarwal said.
Meanwhile, the counsel for Delhi government also sought directions to make the CBI a party to the case. The court issued notice to the CBI to make it a party in the case.
The court had earlier asked the jail authorities and the city government to examine the iPad, to be used by an accused for reading digitalised case files in prison, to ascertain if the equipment can be misused for communication.
It had also asked the accused's counsel to deposit the I Pad with the jail officials who would get it checked by the IT department of Delhi government as to whether it can be misused for communication or not. The court's response came after Delhi government said that Balwa, Director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables, cannot be allowed to use the iPad as it is not permitted by the jail manual.
The government counsel had said security personnel are not equipped to detect any tampering with the gadget. The corporate executive has been arrested for his alleged role in facilitating the transfer of a sum of Rs 200 crore to DMK's party-owned television channel Kalaignar TV through his firm in a 'circuitous manner'.
He is lodged at Tihar Jail along other 12 accused persons including former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa.