TIA correspondent
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NEW DELHI: The CBI on Friday questioned former Telecom Minister A Raja for eight hour at its headquarters here in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam. CBI spokesperson Vineta Thakur said that Raja was questioned on different matter related to 2G allocation.
After the questioning was over, Raja said that he cooperated fully with CBI. “Investigations are on and nothing else can be said at the moment," he said.
The CBI is looking for the money trail of 2G funds and linking the evidence to companies owned by Raja and friends.
Sources said that CBI suspects that money is invested in coal mines in South Africa and Indonesia which are fronted by Raja’s men. The money is also allegedly invested in firms like Green House & Equus Estates, run by Raja’s friends. A Kaliaperumal, Raja’s brother, is a director in Equus Estates, as was Raja’s wife till she resigned. Equus Estates reported a domestic turnover of Rs 755 crore in one year, up from one lakh rupees in 2004.
Money was allegedly stashed away in Welcome Communications, a Malaysia based firm. 85 per cent of equity in Welcome Communications is allegedly owned by Raja.
Earlier CBI also questioned the Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and former TRAI Chief Pradip Baijal in this connection. The agency sleuths raided over 30 places in Delhi and Tamil Nadu on December 15 and questioned several people informally.
The Supreme Court is closely monitoring the multi agency probe into the allocation of 2G spectrum to certain telecom firms. The apex court has asked CBI and Enforcement Department to submit status reports on their probe by February 10, when the 2G spectrum case will come up for hearing.
The CAG in its report to Parliament had said that the allocation of 2G spectrum at undervalued prices had resulted in the loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.