Special CBI court apprised of probe into 2G scam

New Delhi, Feb 22: The CBI today (Tuesday, Feb 22) apprised a Delhi court of its ongoing probe into the 2G spectrum scam following a direction on a private complaint filed by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy for trial of former Telecom Minister A Raja for his alleged role in the case.

"After registration of the case, numerous searches were conducted in the Department of Telecom, various private companies, besides the residential premises of various public servants and people including Raja," the CBI told the court in its probe status report.

"The searches and seizures made by the CBI resulted into recovery of a large number of voluminous documents.

Various witnesses have also been examined in respect of the facts of the case," the investigative agency told Special CBI Judge Pradeep Chaddah.

The CBI, in its status report, however, sought to ignore Swamy's concern over the alleged threat to national security due to allocation of spectrum to Swan Telecom, a joint venture between D B Realty and Etisalat DB, which as per Swami''s complaint is a Dubai-based firm with possible links with Pakistan's ISI.

The CBI said it was "not aware of the details on national security aspect as raised by Swamy." "We (CBI) are not aware of the details of national security aspect as raised by Swamy in his application, as copy of the complaint is not available," the CBI told the court.

The agency made this plea despite Chaddah, while issuing notice to the agency on Feb 5, seeking its detailed status report on the 2G probe, had specifically asked the agency if its investigation also covered the national security aspect as raised by Swamy.

"Issue notice to the CBI to file its detailed report of the investigation being carried out by it and whether it covers the aspect of national security as raised by Swamy in the present case," the judge had said.

Chaddah was hearing Swamy's private complaint for trial of Raja and others for their alleged role into the 2G scam. On Swamy's complaint, the court had on January 22 summoned Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai and CAG Director R P Singh for their examination as witnesses to initiate action.

The court had on Feb 5 deferred the CAG officials' examination and had asked the CBI to file its status report on the probe into the complaint.

PTI