New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday sought the nod of the trial court dealing with the second generation (2G) spectrum case to frame fresh charges charges against the 17 accused, including former telecom minister A. Raja.


The probe agency asked Special Judge O.P. Saini for permission to frame charges for criminal breach of trust by a public servant against Raja, his former aide R.K. Chandolia, and the former telecom secretary Siddartha Behura.

This is a non-bailable offence with punishment that stretches from 10 years to life.

The agency also pressed for charges of criminal conspiracy against the remaining 14 co-accused in the 2G scam, including Raja's party colleague and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi.

The other 14 co-accused include three companies.

Counsel for the accused opposed the plea, saying that the probe agency was using delaying tactics for the trial. Till now, charges against the accused could have subjected them to a maximum imprisonment of seven years.

In a related development, hearing of Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy’s application to make Home Minister P. Chidambaram a co-accused in the case was deferred till Oct 12, with the court hoping that the Supreme Court will decide on that by then.