New Delhi:
The Supreme Court has said that the investigation into the 2G scam, being conducted by the CBI, must look into the events of 2001, when the BJP-led NDA coalition was in power. At that time, first-come-first-served was the accepted policy for allocating spectrum.
The 2G scam was estimated at Rs 1.76 lakh crore by the government's auditor last month. The report submitted forced A Raja to resign as Telecom Minister. His houses in Delhi and Tamil Nadu were raided this morning by the CBI. Raja stands accused of gifting valuable 2G spectrum at bargain-basement prices to companies in 2008.
Raja and those who've defended him have stressed that he followed the policies of his predecessors in the BJP-led NDA coalition. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report says Raja used spectrum rates of 2001 for the licenses that he awarded in 2008.
"The issue raised in the case is not only limited to Rs 1.76 lakh crore but has a much wider compass. We would not like to prejudice the probe. But, what happened in 2001 needs to be looked into. It is for the CBI to investigate and find out," said the Supreme Court today.
That turns the heat up for the BJP, which has been leading an aggressive campaign against Raja and the government. The entire Opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be set up to investigate the 2G swindle. The government is adamant that this is not necessary. It says the Public Accounts Committee, headed by Murli Manohar Joshi of the BJP, has already begun work on studying the CAG report. The PAC has also questioned former telecom officials.