Asif Balwa, accused as a co-conspirator in the 2G spectrum scam and director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, yesterday sought the Delhi High Court's permission to keep an iPad and an air-cooler in his Tihar Jail cell at his own expense.



He also said that he should be allowed to have vegetarian home-cooked food as per the jail manual. Asif filed the application before the bench of Justice S Muralidhar, seeking direction to the Tihar Jail authorities to allow him the use of the two items. The court issued notice to the central government, the Delhi government and the Tihar Jail superintendent seeking their response to Balwa's request by today.

"Due to voluminous documentation filed by the investigation agency, we are unable to keep copies of the entire chargesheet (including the documents sought to be relied upon) either in jail or while in court," said his application.

"This lack of access to the material alleged against me is causing grave prejudice and is against my constitutionally protected right to free and fair trial," said the application. It also said, "The lack of access to the material against me stops me from preparing my defence or even prepare for the stage of consideration of charge."

Asif pleaded that he be permitted, at his own cost, to carry electronic copies of the chargesheet and the documents filed by the investigating agency on electronic reading devices to permit him to be able to study the documents.Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal, were named in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI April 25.