2G case: Court allows Behura, 5 others to visit abroad
Former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura and five others, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, have been allowed by a Delhi court to go abroad in June for varying reasons. Besides Behura, Special CBI Judge O P Saini also granted permission to Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, DB Hospitality (P) Ltd's Vice Chairman-cum-MD Vinod Goenka, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Director Asif Balwa, Cineyug Films Director Karim Morani and Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra to visit abroad.
Meanwhile, DMK MP Kanimozhi too has moved court for permission to visit her native state Tamil Nadu on the occasion of the birthday of her father and party patriarch M Karunanidhi on June 3. Kanimozhi's plea is likely to be heard tomorrow.
The court directed Behura to furnish a surety of Rs 5 lakh, as he is a "retired public servant", while the other five were asked to furnish bond of Rs 20 lakh each before taking up their respective foreign jaunts.
Behura had sought permission to visit his daughter in Bangkok and also travel to Hong Kong between June 9 to June 30 while Shahid and Asif Balwa wished to perform religious pilgrimage in Mecca during the same period. Sanjay Chandra wished to travel to Hong Kong and Shanghai between June 10 to June 16 and also visit Italy, Spain and Turkey between June 22 to July 1 on business matters.
Karim Morani had sought the court's permission to travel to London and Amsterdam on medical grounds from June 11 to June 29. In his plea, Vinod Goenka hadaid that he had to attend important business meetings in London had sought the court's permission to visit the United Kingdom from June 14 to June 29.
"The six accused are facing trial in a very serious matter and it is incumbent upon them to be available... For facing trial. However, at the same time travelling is a natural incident of human life and should not normally be denied without any valid reason," the court said while allowing their pleas.