2G: A Raja Siddhartha Behura quizzed by CBI for Loop-Essar

New Delhi, Jul 24: Carrying on its probe into the 2G scam, the CBI has recorded the statements of jailed former telecom Minister A Raja and the then telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura in connection with grant of spectrum licence to Loop and the role of Essar group.

Highly-placed sources said the duo was quizzed after the recent communications from Ministry of Corporate Affairs and some legal opinions expressed by former legal experts claimed that Ruias-led Essar group had only 2.15 per cent stake in Loop Telecom at the time of grant of 2G licence.

As per ''substantial equity'' clause of the licence, a company cannot hold more than 10 per cent in two operating licences in the same circle.

Raja and Behura were questioned in the jail lock-up earlier this week after a special court gave permission to the CBI to quiz the two along with Reliance ADAG group MD Gautam Doshi. The agency had pleaded that further investigation is being carried out and the three accused are required to be examined in judicial custody in the interest of the case.

The interrogation of Raja, former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura and Reliance ADAG group MD Gauram Dosh, which took place in the Patiala House court complex, lasted for three hours with everyone quizzed separately for one hour each.

PTI