Jail is alright, but recovery of the money, too is very important

Anil Narendra

A few days ago, I met a leader. During our talks, various scams being in the limelight these days, also came up. His views made me to think. He said that scam of any magnitude can be carried out these days. But, if you are ready to go to jail for a few days, you have nothing to fear of. According to him, the moment the leader is put behind the bars, half of public ire gets pacified and half of the case is also won. When he comes out of jail after a few months, he is accorded a hero’s welcome. Then, comes the elections and the leader wins and now he can claim that the public has condoned the corruption or he might say that he has been forgiven by the supreme court of the democracy i.e. the janata durbar. There may be one or two cases, but ultimately disputes are settled in his favour. But, the most important question remains, where is the money, which this man has amassed from the scam?

Let us take the example of 2-G spectrum scam, which amounts to almost staggering 1,76,000 crores rupees. It may be true that more than half a dozen leaders and others including A Raja and Kanimozhi are behind the bars in connection with this scam, but the question remains that how much money has so far been recovered by the CBI? It is not clear from the statements of the CBI as to any amount relating to this scam has so far been recovered or not? According to the charges by the investigation agency in this scam of  1,76,000 crore rupees, Raja had made the company of Shahid Balwa to pay a sum of Rs 200 crores to Kalaignar TV and this amount had reached Kalaignar TV through Cineyug. Kanimozhi and Sharad owned 20% shares each in Kalaignar TV, whereas Dayalu Ammal had a whooping holding of 60%. It is being talked about that if the CBI has not made it public that it has recovered any amount from someone or not, then the money has came back to Shahid Balwa through the same channel through which it had reached Kalaignar TV? In case, the amount of theft is not recovered, there can not be an air-tight case. This amount must be recovered and deposited in the Court, which then becomes the case property. If your mobile phone is stolen in a bus, then the case can not be considered air tight till the police apprehend the culprit and recover and table the stolen mobile in the Court. Of course, the CBI arrested Gautam Doshi, Managing Director, Reliance, Senior Vice Presidents, Hari Nayar and Surendra Papara, Director, Swan Telecom, Vinod Goenka and Director of Unitech Wireless Sanjay Chandra, but there is no indication as to the recovery of any money from these persons. What steps the CBI or the government is contemplating to recover the money involved in the scam? Will the government confiscate the properties of these accused and their companies to recover the scam money? This action is necessary for two reasons. Firstly, it is the property of the country, and secondly this amount has been amassed by looting the country and as such it is the case property. 2-G Spectrum is just one scam, God knows how many more scams are lying undetected. If money involved in these scam is recovered, the people of the country can be relieved of the burden of the poverty.