NEW DELHI: Arrests in the 2G spectrum scam seem to be on the cards with the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday questioning former telecom minister A Raja about his role in changing acceptance dates for bids by private firms for the scarce airwaves.
The central agency closely examined Raja on allegations that the first come, first served policy for 2G spectrum allocation was tweaked to favour some players by advancing the cut-off date for application to September 25, 2007 from October 1. By this, the telecom ministry disqualified some 400-odd application.
The DMK leader is also being questioned about the telecom ministry's decision that letters of intent would be issued in just one hour on January 10, 2008 to companies that pay entry fees first. With Raja visiting the CBI office for the third time since December last, the agency looks closer to making arrests.
"We have evidence in the 2G spectrum scam against several people and there would definitely be a chargesheet. We will arrest a few people soon," a senior official told TOI. Raja was questioned on his contacts with private companies, conversations with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and investments in several firms in Tamil Nadu and Delhi in the names of his relatives.
The former minister arrived at the CBI headquarters at 10.30am and was there till 6.30pm. His leaked conversations with Radia were taken up after the lobbyist was questioned last week. Asked about Radia's role, a source said, "Radia at present does not seem relevant to our case in 2G allocations. Her role is so far limited to telephonic conversations." The officer indicated CBI may not mention Radia in its report to Supreme Court to be filed by February 10.
Raja was asked about some of his kin and their role in offshoot companies of telecom firms and the flow of funds to these entities. "He was confronted with documents recovered by the agency during searches at the Department of Telecom offices in October 2009 after registering a case against unnamed people," the official said.
The central agency closely examined Raja on allegations that the first come, first served policy for 2G spectrum allocation was tweaked to favour some players by advancing the cut-off date for application to September 25, 2007 from October 1. By this, the telecom ministry disqualified some 400-odd application.
The DMK leader is also being questioned about the telecom ministry's decision that letters of intent would be issued in just one hour on January 10, 2008 to companies that pay entry fees first. With Raja visiting the CBI office for the third time since December last, the agency looks closer to making arrests.
"We have evidence in the 2G spectrum scam against several people and there would definitely be a chargesheet. We will arrest a few people soon," a senior official told TOI. Raja was questioned on his contacts with private companies, conversations with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and investments in several firms in Tamil Nadu and Delhi in the names of his relatives.
The former minister arrived at the CBI headquarters at 10.30am and was there till 6.30pm. His leaked conversations with Radia were taken up after the lobbyist was questioned last week. Asked about Radia's role, a source said, "Radia at present does not seem relevant to our case in 2G allocations. Her role is so far limited to telephonic conversations." The officer indicated CBI may not mention Radia in its report to Supreme Court to be filed by February 10.
Raja was asked about some of his kin and their role in offshoot companies of telecom firms and the flow of funds to these entities. "He was confronted with documents recovered by the agency during searches at the Department of Telecom offices in October 2009 after registering a case against unnamed people," the official said.
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