New Delhi:The recording of defence evidence in a 2G scam-related money laundering case in which ex-Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and others are facing trial could not commence on Tuesday before a Delhi court as no witnesses appeared before it for recording of their statement.
The court had yesterday also deferred the matter for today as no defence witness had turned up.
As the proceeding began today, Special CBI Judge O P Saini was informed by the counsel appearing for the accused that no defence witness has turned up for recording of their testimonies.
Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for Kanimozhi, Bollywood producer Karim Morani and some of the accused firms have told the court that they would not examine any witness in their defence during the trial.
On March 27, the court had concluded recording of statements of accused in the case and directed all the 19 accused to file the list of defence witnesses, if any, by March 31.
Raja, Kanimozhi, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka and 14 others, including nine firms, are facing trial in the case.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 25, last year had filed a charge sheet against the 19 accused for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The other accused in the money laundering case are Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Karim Morani and P Amirtham. All of them are out on bail.
