CBI grills Raja for third time in 2G scam

New Delhi, Jan 31 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday questioned former Telecom Minister A Raja for the third time in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum to certain telecom firms between October 2007 and 2008.

The CBI questioned the 47-year-old Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader for nearly nine hours in connection with the scam.

It has been reported that the Raja was asked about his conversations with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and the reasons of advancing the cut-off date of allocation of the spectrum in 2007.

The investigating agency had earlier on January 24 and 25 last year quizzed Raja in connection with the case.

The Supreme Court has asked the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit status reports on their investigations into the 2G scam to it by February 10, when the case will come up for hearing.

The CBI in its first information report had mentioned the loss as Rs.22, 000 crore based on the findings of Central Vigilance Commission, which had referred the case to it.

The CBI had also quizzed corporate lobbyist Niira Radia at her South Delhi farmhouse in connection with the scam in December last year.

Radia was questioned after her taped telephonic conversations with various influential people, including industrialists, politicians and journalists became public.

The CBI also questioned former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chief Pradip Baijal in connection with the case.

Raja was forced to resign from Union Cabinet last month after a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) faulted him for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue. (ANI)