Swamy to seek Raja’s arrest after PM’s affidavit

Janata Party chief Subramanium Swamy on Saturday said he will now approach a lower court seeking arrest of former Telecom minister A Raja after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court (SC) on the alleged inaction by the PM on Swamy’s letters, seeking sanction to prosecute Raja in the 2G Spectrum scam.

Reacting to the affidavit, Swamy said, “I am satisfied that the affidavit filed on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh confirms all my issues with facts. I am happy with the response.”

He said that he can now file a complant against Raja in a lower sessions court and seek arrest warrant against the former Union minister.

“I think a jail culd be a secured place for Raja,” Swamy said.

Demanding immediate cancellation of licenses issued through undervalued sale of 2G spectrum, the former Union Law minister pointed that the scam has cost the government exchequer Rs 1.76 lakh crore and a fresh auction must be held.

Swamy equating the prime minister with Bhisma of the epic Mahabharat for allegedly turning a blind eye to the scam.

On his reported objection to Attorney General GE Vahanvati participating in the case, Swamy said he had no problem with Vahanvati representing the prime minister.

“But if he appears for giving arguments in the 2G spectrum deal on behalf of the government, I would object because he is the man who advised Raja for not sending the matter to group of ministers and cabinet for necessary approval,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court on the 2G Spectrum scam, said that there was no inaction on his part for allowing prosecution of former Telecom minister A Raja.

Refuting charges of delay in sanction of prosecution of Raja, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in an 11-page affidavit claimed that action was duly taken on every letter received from former MP Subramanium Swamy seeking permission to act against Raja.

The affidavit was filed through Director (PMO) V Vidyawati wherein the prime minister said: “I am making this affidavit only for the purpose of showing how the various letters received from the petitioner have been duly considered.”

The Prime Minister is being represented by India’s top legal officer, the Attorney General, in the Supreme Court after the PM was asked to reply why he did not act on a plea to prosecute A Raja, the former telecom minister accused of enacting the multi-billion 2G spectrum scam.

On Tuesday, the court had asked the government to explain why the PM took 11 months to respond to a request by former Law Minister Subramaniam Swamy that asked for Raja to be prosecuted for the 2G scam.