2G scam: Raja remanded to CBI custody for four more days

New Delhi. Feb 10 (ANI): A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Thursday remanded former Telecom Minister to CBI custody for four more days along with Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa for questioning in connection with their role in the 2G spectrum scam.

Special Judge O P Saini remanded the duo to CBI custody till February 14.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Delhi court granted the CBI two more days custody of former. Raja in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

The investigating agency had asked the court for a four-day extension, but was granted only two days.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court asked the government to constitute a special court to deal exclusively with the 2G spectrum scam.

The CBI told the apex court that it will file the first chargesheet in 2G scam against A Raja and others under Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) for cheating and forgery by March 31.

The apex court said it favours a CBI investigation that also covers culpability of beneficiaries of the scam, as they are part of a larger conspiracy.

A Mumbai court had on Wednesday granted the CBI two-days transit remand of managing director of DB Realty Shahid Balwa, who was arrested in Mumbai on late Tuesday.

In its remand application, the CBI said Balwa"s company Swan Telecom (a part of the Mumbai-based DB Realty) allegedly got favours in the spectrum allocation and caused the national exchequer a loss of over Rs.22,000 crore.

It also said Balwa allegedly conspired with private companies to sell to a Gulf firm at a huge profit the 2G spectrum licences Swan Telecom acquired at a cheap rate.

Also, the Enforcement Directorate had trailed Rs 214 crore allegedly routed by Balwa and DB Realty to Chennai-based Kalaignar television, a channel promoted by family members of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Balwa is the fourth high profile person arrested in connection with the scam.

The others arrested in connection with the case are former Telecom Minister A Raja, his personal secretary RK Chandolia and former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behuria.

Raja was forced to resign from the Union Cabinet last year after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (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)