2G: It's grilling time for Tata, Radia, A Ambani;PAC summons

New Delhi, Mar 29: From the very beginning when the biggest scam in the nation - 2G spectrum came under the limelight, big names with significant portfolios were centred the scandal. The then telecom minister A Raja, was forced to resign from his post as he is the main accused in the scam, later he has been arrested. Now, time has come when the big names from corporate world soon will face the heat from the investigation panel.

The Parliamentary investigating panel and BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi led Public Accounts Committee (PAC) summoned Ratan Tata, Anil Ambani and the corporate lobbyist Niira Radia. The three honchos are summoned by the PAC over their alleged roles in the multi-crore telecom scam.

Sources reported that while Ratan Tata and Niira Radia are summoned on Apr 4, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), Anil Ambani will appear before the panel on the next day.

Confirming the news about Tata, Radia and Ambani, the sources also informed, "Niira Radia and Ratan Tata have been called on Apr 4 to discuss their role in the 2G allocation. On Apr 5, representatives of four companies - Swan Telecom, Reliance, Airtel and Unitech - have been asked to present themselves."

Lobbyist Radia's name caught the attention of the investigating panel when a media organisation leaked a tape in which Radia was allegedly lobbying with journalists and important people to influence formation of the UPA-II Cabinet, especially the Telecom portfolio. Ratan Tata also figures in some of these purported conversations with Radia.

Meanwhile, investigation in 2G scam claimed that Anil Ambani's ADAG allegedly helped Swan Telecom which is alleged to have benefitted in the scam. Swan was a front for the Anil Ambani Group. Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa has also been arrested and currently sent to the Tihar jail.

However, both Tata and Ambani spokespersons informed that they welcomed PAC's summon and they will co-operate with the investigating panel.

OneIndia News