After the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, both accused in the 2G scam, the other three accused in the case including Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa played safe by withdrawing their bail applications from the Delhi high court. Along with Balwa, his brother Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agagrwal, both directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd too withdrew their application.

The move came minutes after the apex court’s order asking Kanimozhi and Kumar to approach the special CBI court with fresh pleas for bail. Apparently, the three preferred withdrawal of their petitions after sensing that they might be rejected. Criminal lawyer Majid Menon, reprersenting Shahid Balwa, contended before justice Ajit Bharihoke that since the SC has given liberty to Kanimozhi and Kumar to file fresh plea before the CBI court, he would not like to press the petition in the HC but put a plea before the CBI court.

Justice Bharihoke allowed the withdrawal of the bail pleas of all the three accsued.

Earlier during the day, SC bench of justices G S Singhvi and B S Chauhan rejected the bail pleas of Kanimozhi and Kumar and asked them to approach the special CBI court set up to hear the 2G scam case. The bench also said that they could move for a regular bail only after framing of charges against them in the scam. The trial court would frame charges in a month or two.