The Delhi High Court on Friday denied bail to former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura who is in judicial custody since February 2 for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
?The bail application is dismissed,? Justice VK Shali told a packed courtroom, pronouncing his judgement on Behura?s bail plea.
Last month, the same court had granted bail to five other co-accused in the case ? DMK MP Kanimozhi, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables directors Rajiv Aggarwal and Asif Balwa and Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani.
While Justice Shali had granted bail to these five, he had reserved order on Behura?s bail plea, saying his case was different from those of other accused as he was a public servant.
This judgment is likely to dampen the spirits of other 2G scam accused ? former telecom minister A Raja, who is yet to move his bail plea before any court, and his private secretary RK Chandolia, who has been granted bail by the special CBI court.
In fact, a day after Chandolia got out of Tihar Jail on December 1, Justice Shali took suo motu cognisance of news reports and said that the stay would be operative if he was not released from the prison.
Some legal experts feel the high court?s judgment might dissuade Raja from applying for bail.
CBI had also opposed Behura’s bail plea saying complicity of public servants should be viewed ?seriously? and if he is released, ex-minister A Raja may also seek same relief on ground of parity.
Raja and Behura are the only accused in the 2G scam who still remain in jail.