SC gives bail to five and hope to Raja, Kanimozhi

Just after 10.30am on Wednesday, the special CBI court hearing the 2G scam case exploded in a commotion of celebration. After seven months, five of the corporate executives jailed in the 2G scam were given bail by the Supreme Court - after several attempts. Unitech Wireless managing director Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom director Vinod Goenka and three top executives of Reliance-ADAG were told that they could leave Tihar jail, 217 days after they were imprisoned.

"It is not in the interest of justice that accused should remain in jail for an indefinite period," the top court said.

It also said right to bail could not be denied merely because public sentiments were against the accused. This is the first time bail has been given in the 2G case.

This bail order opens a window of hope for former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi along with others in Tihar for the same case and waiting for their bail pleas to be heard.

All of them moved the Delhi high court to bring forward their plea hearing from December 1. The HC will consider this on Thursday.

As news of the bail broke in the special court a kilometer away at Patiala House, all the accused, their relatives and advocates jumped out of their chairs, prompting special CBI judge OP Saini to angrily tell them to get out of his courtroom.

By 8pm, the five - including Reliance-ADAG's Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara - were out of Tihar.