Delhi High Court directs 2G case accused to plant 3,000 trees

Delhi high court has ordered two scam case accused Shahid Balwa and four others to plant three thousand trees each as they failed to reply to Enforcement Directorate and CBI's appeal against their acquittal.  

Justice Najmi Waziri was hearing ED and CBI's appeal against the acquittal of the 2G scam accused in December 2017.

The Delhi High Court specifies that the indigenous plants need to be three and half years of nursery age and six feet in height. They will also have to carry out plantation drives before March 26, which is the next date of hearing. 

However, the respondents will have to meet the Deputy Conservator of Forests on February 15 so that the land can be allotted to them for planting those trees. The accused have not only been directed to maintain the plants till monsoon but also ensure the order's compliance by submitting photographs to court to prove that the plants are in good health. 

Justice Waziri emphasised on the need to plant more trees in order to revive 48,000 acres of ridge area in the national capital.

He stated that since morning he passed similar orders to ensure plantation of almost 39,000 trees. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta praised the judge and said, "This is the best way to impose costs."

In the last hearing, the Delhi High Court had granted the persons the last opportunity to file their responses on the agencies plea, warning that no more delays will be allowed.

Last year the Enforcement Directorate had approached Delhi High Court challenging the special court's order acquitting all the accused in the money laundering case arising out of the 2G scam. A day later, the CBI too challenged the acquittal of the accused in the case.