New Delhi:
Former Telecom Minister A Raja will be questioned by the CBI in connection with the 2G scam -estimated to be worth 1.76 lakh crore rupees and described as India's biggest swindle.
RK Chandolia, a close associate of Raja's, will also be questioned. Chandolia was Raja's secretary in 2008 when the controversial 2G licenses were allotted. More recently, he was an economic advisor for the Telecom Department till earlier this month, when he was transferred.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing various cases related to the 2G scam, has recently asked the CBI why it hadn't questioned Raja, even though a report by the government's auditor faulted him for blatantly under-valuing 2G spectrum to favour a group of companies who won 2G licences. Some of those companies were ineligible for the licenses they were granted.
CBI sources say that while Raja is certain to be confronted, the agency is still in the process of gathering evidence against him. 5900 conversations gathered by taping the phone of PR executive Niira Radia - have been transcribed and are now being analysed.
Radia counts among her clients Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani. Her phone was tapped between 2008-09 in connection with an inquiry on money-laundering and tax evasion by companies that tax officials were monitoring.
In Parliament, the 2G scam continued to provoke protests by the Opposition. After LK Advani's remarks yesterday - that the government seem tolerant of corruption - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee struck back. "Immediately as soon as the CAG report was available, the minister concerned has resigned whether he is corrupt or not it has not yet been established." And then came the direct attack -"what we have seen in the earlier regime people should not forget about it. What happened in Tehelka, how a president of a national party was found taking money - it was in camera."
RK Chandolia, a close associate of Raja's, will also be questioned. Chandolia was Raja's secretary in 2008 when the controversial 2G licenses were allotted. More recently, he was an economic advisor for the Telecom Department till earlier this month, when he was transferred.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing various cases related to the 2G scam, has recently asked the CBI why it hadn't questioned Raja, even though a report by the government's auditor faulted him for blatantly under-valuing 2G spectrum to favour a group of companies who won 2G licences. Some of those companies were ineligible for the licenses they were granted.
CBI sources say that while Raja is certain to be confronted, the agency is still in the process of gathering evidence against him. 5900 conversations gathered by taping the phone of PR executive Niira Radia - have been transcribed and are now being analysed.
Radia counts among her clients Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani. Her phone was tapped between 2008-09 in connection with an inquiry on money-laundering and tax evasion by companies that tax officials were monitoring.
In Parliament, the 2G scam continued to provoke protests by the Opposition. After LK Advani's remarks yesterday - that the government seem tolerant of corruption - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee struck back. "Immediately as soon as the CAG report was available, the minister concerned has resigned whether he is corrupt or not it has not yet been established." And then came the direct attack -"what we have seen in the earlier regime people should not forget about it. What happened in Tehelka, how a president of a national party was found taking money - it was in camera."
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