In a strange incident at the Special Court hearing the 2G spectrum case on Thursday, a man was detained for allegedly threatening Mr Aseervatham Achary, the former aide of the then Telecom Minister, Mr A Raja, and the CBI's star witness.

During the course of his examination, Mr Achary claimed that the man who ‘threatened' him and family was in the court.

Immediately, the man ran away but was apprehended by the Delhi Police personnel present there. Mr Achary — who has been given police security since he complained of threat to him and family as well as his personal security officer — identified the man as one who had come to his house in August on the pretext of being his relative. Mr Achary also said the man was seated alongside Mr R. K. Chandolia, an accused and former private secretary to Mr Raja.

The man, identified as Mr Jai Prakash, was then produced before the court, which in turn asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to take note of the incident and the photocopy of Mr Achary's application to the CBI in this regard (which Mr Achary placed on court record) to initiate necessary action.

Earlier, on being asked by the court about his presence there, Mr Prakash said he comes to the court with food and water for Reliance ADAG officials accused in the case. Mr Prakash denied all the allegations and that he had gone to Mr Achary's residence. In the evening, the police said no case has been registered against him and that he was let off since it seems that he had not threatened Mr Achary.

Meanwhile, Mr Raja began his defence by cross-examining Mr Achary.

Earlier, Mr Raja had objected to the commencement of the trial saying the CBI needs to first clarify whether its probe was over. But with the CBI filing its chargesheet on December 12 on the Essar-Loop transactions in the case, Mr Raja called off his protest. Mr Achary had alleged that Mr Raja had a long association with some of the corporate executives accused in the case.

>arun.s@thehindu.co.in

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