2G spectrum case: A timeline of the events

A special court on Thursday acquitted 19 accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi in the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering case relating to the 2G scam.

New Delhi: Former telecom minister A Raja reacts as he leaves the Patiala House Courts after he was acquitted by a special court in the 2G scam case, in New Delhi on Thursday. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: A special court on Thursday acquitted 19 accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi in the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering case relating to the 2G scam. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said that the "massive propaganda" against the UPA on the 2G spectrum was without any foundation while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Congress should not treat the 2G verdict as a "badge of honour". Following is the chronology of events in the 2G spectrum allocation cases, leading to the acquittal of all accused. October 21, 2009: CBI registers case related to alleged irregularities in allocation of 2G Spectrum May 2010: NGO Centre for Public Interest litigation (CPIL) moves Delhi High Court seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into irregularities in spectrum allocation. October 8, 2010: Supreme Court seeks government's response on Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on the alleged scam. November 10, 2010: CAG pegs loss to exchequer at Rs.1.76 lakh crore. November 14, 2010: A. Raja resigns as the Communications Minister. December 8, 2010: Supreme Court orders setting up of a special court to look into 2G scam. February 2, 2011: Raja arrested. April 2, 2011: CBI files chargesheet in the case. April 29, 2011 : CBI files supplementary chargesheet in the case. September 15, 2011: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy goes to CBI special court seeking P. Chidambaram to be made co-accused. October 22, 2011: Special CBI court frames charges against 17 accused, including Raja. October 22, 2011: Court frames charges against Raja and others. November 11, 2011: Trial begins in the case. November 23, 2011 : Supreme Court grants bail to five Corporate honchos. December 12, 2011: CBI submits third charge sheet, including names of Essar promoters Anshuman Ruia, Ravi Ruia, Essar Group director strategy and planning Vikas Saraf, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan and her husband I.P. Khaitan as accused. Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding also recognised as accused. February 2, 2012: The Supreme Court orders cancellation of 122 licences issued in 2008, gives companies four months to cease operations. February 4, 2012: Trial court dismisses Swamy's plea to make Home Minister P. Chidambaram an accused. November 28, 2011: DMK MP Kanimozhi gets bail. May 15, 2012: Raja gets bail. May 25, 2012: Court frames charges against promoters of Essar and Loop, grants bail. April 25, 2014: ED chargesheets Raja, Kanimozhi and others. October 31, 2014: Money laundering charges framed against Raja, Kanimozhi and others. November 17, 2014: Trial begin in money laundering case. December 5, 2017: Court sets December 21 as judgement day in the case. December 21: All including Raja, Kanimozhi acquitted in the case.