Supreme Court over-rules Govt on 2G prosecutor

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court today directed the government to appoint senior advocate U U Lalit as Special Public Prosecutor for the trial of the 2G spectrum case involving former Telecom Minister A Raja and others.

The apex court said that Lalit will be at liberty to choose his team of prosecutors from the panel of advocates working for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which said that it will file its supplementary chargesheet by April 24 in the case.

The court said the agency can nominate its advocates to assist Lalit in the trial.

Earlier, the Centre had objected to the appointment of Lalit as Special Public Prosecutor saying he did not meet the eligibility criteria for the task.

A bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly made it clear that the trial will be held on a day-to-day basis and no adjournments would be granted.

It said that no other court will entertain any petition or application relating to the case other than the apex court.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, said the agency will file its supplementary chargesheet by April 24.

The CBI had on April 2 filed its first chargesheet against Raja and eight others as well as three telecom companies under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.