2G: Goenka's Wife Skips Witness Box

The first day of resumption of the 2G spectrum allocation case trial in a Delhi court on Monday after the summer vacation saw its deferment as Swan Telecom promoter and co-accused Vinod Goenka's wife failed to appear for her deposition due to her mother's illness.

Goenka's wife Aseela Vinod Goenka, who was to testify as CBI witness, did not turn up before Special Judge O P Saini and her deposition was postponed till a new date is fixed.

Appearing for the Swan Telecom promoter Goenka, advocate Majeed Menon told the court that Aseela Goenka's 82-year-old mother has fallen ill and has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, rendering her unable to come here for deposition.

Six co-accused facing trial in the case, former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Director Asif Balwa, Cineyug Films Director Karim Morani and Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra, on Monday submitted their passports to the court.

These six had gone abroad with the court's permission from June 8 to June 30 during summer vacation for varying reasons.

As the proceedings resumed today, all accused, including former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, appeared before the court and six of them submitted their passports as per the court's earlier direction to them.

The court had directed Behura to furnish a surety of Rs five lakh as he is a "retired public servant", while the other five were asked to furnish a bond of Rs 20 lakh each before taking up their respective foreign visits.

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 had gone to Mecca on pilgrimage during the same period.

Sanjay Chandra had taken court's permission to visit Hong Kong and Shanghai between June 10 and June 16 and also to visit Italy, Spain and Turkey between June 22 and July 1 for 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 had said he had to attend important business meetings in London and had sought court's permission to visit the United Kingdom from June 14 to June 29.

(PTI)