SC asks special public prosecutor in 2G scam to assist in Ranjit Sinha case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked Anand Grover, special public prosecutor in the 2G spectrum allocation case, to assist it with regard to the Centre for Public Interest Litigation’s (CPIL) refusal to name the whistleblower who had furnished the guest book at the residence of Ranjit Sinha, director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“Any order made by us on the application will have its own ramifications on the cases pending before us and filed in the future,” judges H.L. Dattu and S.A. Bobde said, while deeming it fit not to consider a CPIL application asking the court to recall its 15 September order at this stage.

On 15 September, the apex court had asked CPIL to name the whistleblower who had provided ‘evidence’—the guest register at Sinha’s home—about Sinha allegedly meeting executives from companies that were being probed by the CBI in connection with the 2G scam.

On 18 September, after a governing body meeting and a resolution to the effect, the CPIL chose not to name the whistleblower. CPIL wants Sinha to recuse himself from heading the 2G investigation.

On Monday, the court directed Grover to receive copies of the guest register from Sinha’s home as well as other court documents, applications and affidavits for his perusal.

The hearing took a murky turn on Monday when lawyer Vikas Singh, appearing for Sinha, made a personal attack against lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Bhushan, a lawyer and a governing body member of CPIL who generally represents the non-government organization in the court, has been accused of perjury by CBI. On Monday, lawyer Dushyant Dave represented the CPIL, Bhushan and Kamini Jaiswal, a lawyer and general secretary for CPIL. The CBI also accused her of perjury.

CPIL has alleged that Sinha had attempted to scuttle the 2G investigations and prosecution against certain entities such as Reliance Communications Ltd, former telecommunication minister Dayanidhi Maran and Maxis Mobile Ltd, a Malaysian telecom service provider.

The hearing will continue on 10 October.