A New Delhi court acquitted A. Raja of corruption and also dropped charges against a slew of other bureaucrats and corporate executives implicated in the 2008 scandal that cost the state billions in lost revenue. Modi declares victory for ruling party in state electionsJudge O. P. Saini said there was a lack of evidence and Raja’s supporters let off firecrackers outside the courthouse. “I have absolutely no hesitation in holding that (the) prosecution has miserably failed to prove any charge against any accused,” Saini told a packed courtroom. The massive scandal, in which India’s Congress government allegedly under-priced spectrum and favoured certain firms, seriously damaging the administration of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party won that poll in a landslide, campaigning in part of a pledge to clean up corruption.

Source: The Express Tribune December 21, 2017 07:18 UTC