Raja, two officials arrested by CBI in Spectrum scam

New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI) A Raja, who as Telecom Ministerhad allegedly manipulated procedures in allocation of 2GSpectrum that has dented UPA government''s image, was todayarrested along with two officials by CBI, a week before it hasto file its final investigation report in the Supreme Court.

Retired bureaucrat, Siddartha Behura, who was TelecomSecretary in 2008 when the controversial decision to givelicenses was taken, and Raja''s Personal Secretary R KChandolia were also arrested with the former Minister,all of whom were called to the CBI headquarters this morning.

"Based on the facts disclosed so far during theinvestigations regarding their role in allocation of Letter ofIntent and resultant Unified Access Services Licenses andSpectrum to certain companies ahead of others, the CBI hastoday arrested the then Telecom Minister, the then TelecomSecretary, the then Private Secretary to the Minister," abrief statement issued by the CBI said.

It recalled that it had earlier registered a case undervarious sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Actagainst unknown officials of DoT, persons and companies on theallegation of conspiracy and abuse of official position inorder to give pecuniary advantage or favour to the applicantcompanies in the processing and allocation of letters ofintent for UAS Licences and resultant spectrum allocation tolaunch telecom services.

Behura belonged to the IAS while Chandolia is stillserving in the Indian Economic Service.

The arrest of 47-year-old Raja, the dalit face of DMK, acrucial ally of the Congress at the Centre, comes almost twomonths after his resignation as minister in the wake of aParliamentary storm over his continuance and Supreme courtbreathing down the government''s neck on investigations in thescam.

The 2G scam paralysed the entire winter session ofParliament on opposition''s demand for a Joint ParliamentaryCommittee (JPC) probe to go into it. Unless a way is found onthe issue, the forthcoming Budget session could again be introuble. .