India court rejects prosecution of minister in telecoms scandal

Feb 4, 2012, 13:18 GMT

New Delhi - An Indian court ruled Saturday that Home Affairs Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram would not have to stand trial in a multi-billion dollar telecoms corruption scandal.

The petition, by regional politician Subramaniam Swamy, to summon Chidambaram as an accused in the case was dismissed by the New Delhi court.

Swamy had alleged that Chidambaram was party to the fraudulent sale of telecoms licences in 2008, when he was finance minister.

'There is no material on record to suggest that Chidambaram was acting with such corrupt or illegal motives or was in abuse of his official position,' said Judge OP Saini.

'There is no evidence that he obtained any pecuniary advantage without any public interest,' he added.

Swamy said he would appeal against the ruling in a higher court.

A total of 14 people, including former telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja and telecoms executives, are facing trial over the case.

Saturday's ruling brought relief to the Indian National Congress government, whose credibility has been tarnished by the scandal, said to have cost the national exchequer up to an estimated 40 billion dollars.