SC relief for Indian FM in 2G case

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a petition seeking the investigation of Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram over his alleged role in the 2G telecom case.
Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy, who had filed the petition seeking to make Chidambaram a co-accused in the case, said the judgment was not based on "fair arguments" and that he will ask for a review.
"I did not argue conspiracy. The judges have ruled on conspiracy, from what they read out," he told television channel CNN-IBN.
Chidambaram was finance minister when companies were awarded 2G telecoms licences at rock-bottom prices. Former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja and several company executives were arrested in connection with the case.
Swamy argued that Chidambaram should also be made a co-accused because "he caused national loss".
The government is estimated to have lost up to $32 billion in revenue after the underpriced sale of telecom licences.
The court judgment comes as a relief to the Congress-led coalition government, which is facing the heat over the 'Coalgate' case, with opposition parties stalling parliament demanding the resignation of the prime minister over alleged corruption in the sale of coal concessions to private companies.