New Delhi:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has more than doubled its estimate of the loss, caused by the 2G scam.
Sources say, CBI Director AP Singh told the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the loss caused by the 2G spectrum allocation scam is about Rs 50,000 crore. In their FIR, the agency had estimated it at Rs 22,000 crore.
The CBI Director deposed before the PAC in connection with the 2G scam today.
"As far as he (Singh) has seen the case, to say 'zero loss' is wrong," PAC chairman Murli Manohar Joshi told a press conference after the meeting.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal had described as "utterly erroneous and without any basis" the estimated loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore arrived at by the CAG on account of allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom operators. Calling Sibal's remark an insult to the Parliamentary system, Joshi said he would meet the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on the issue.
The controversial allocation of 2G spectrum involving former Telecom Minister A Raja caused a presumptive loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer, according to the government's auditor.
(Read: What is 2G scam?)Two weeks ago, the CBI arrested A Raja and two of his close aides - R K Chandolia and Siddharth Behura.
On February 8, Shahid Balwa, the promoter of DB Realty, was arrested by the CBI. Balwa's DB Realty floated Swan Telecom, which Raja allegedly favoured in spectrum allocation.
On Monday, the CBI custody of A Raja was extended for three more days and of Shahid Balwa for four more days.
(Read: CBI gets more time with Raja, Balwa to crack the money trail)