2G: Frame charges against 17 on evidence

The court found prima facie evidence to frame charges against Raja`s former Private Secretary R K Chandolia and former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura. In addition, it said there was evidence for framing of charges against Raja, Behura and Chandolia under section 409 of the IPC for the offence of breach of trust against them which attracts maximum punishment of life term.

With an important milestone crossed in the case, the accused can now move for bail as observed by the Supreme Court during the hearing of bail petition by Kanimozhi earlier.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini said evidence is there for framing of charges against telecom firms Reliance Telecom Ltd, Swan Telecom and Unitech (Tamil Nadu) Wireless Ltd.

The judge also said CBI has also brought evidence to frame charges against corporate executives of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group`s Managing Director Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara, Group`s President and Hari Nair, senior Vice President.

Others against whom charges will be framed are Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, his cousin Asif Balwa, their colleague Rajeev Agarwal, Unitech Ltd`s MD Sanjay Chandra and DB Realty MD Vinod Goenka.

The judge said there was prima facie evidence for framing charges also against Kalaignar TV`s MD Sharad Kumar and Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani.