2G probe: CBI raids 34 places in Delhi, Noida, TN; ED joins in
Vinay Kumar Share · print · T+
An official (sitting, left) speaks to Subramanian (standing, right), an associate of Sadiq Batcha, who is said to be a close friend of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and audit assistant David (sitting, right) during CBI raids in connection with the 2G spectrum probe, in Perambalur on Wednesday. Photo: M. Moorthy
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The CBI raided residences and offices across the country, including those of associates of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi in connection with the 2G Spectrum allocation scam.
As part of its ongoing probe into 2G spectrum scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches in Delhi, Noida and Tamil Nadu at the premises of several companies, their directors and the former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman.
``Searches conducted so far at around 34 places in Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Noida (UP) have led to the recovery of incriminating documents. Searches are still going on,’’ CBI spokesperson Vinita Thakur said in a brief statement.
The agency conducted searches at the office of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, former TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal and a Chennai NGO. The office of Niira Radia – Vaishnavi Corporate Communications in Central Delhi -- and her farm house in South Delhi were among the premises searched by the CBI, sources said. They added that Mr. Baijal, Ms. Radia and two suspected hawala dealers Mahesh Jain and Alok Jain were also quizzed by the CBI sleuths during the searches.
Wednesday’s searches were described as ``follow up’’ searches conducted on December 8 in connection with the ongoing probe into 2G spectrum allocation.
The former TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal who had retired in 2006 and later joined Niira Radia’s company Noesis also faced the heat of the CBI searches as he is alleged to have helped some telecom firms during his tenure as TRAI chief. Mr. Baijal is a former IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre.
The searches were also carried out in the premises of Kamaraj, Associate Editor of Tamil magazine in Chennai 'Nakkeran', brother of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and sister near Tiruchirappalli and Tamil Maiyam, an NGO in which Kanimozhi, MP and daughter of DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi, is on the Board of Directors.
Earlier this month, the CBI had conducted searches at the residence of Mr. Raja and five of his aides and associates, including his then personal secretary R. K.Chandolia, as it intensified its probe into the 2G spectrum scam. The agency has told the Supreme Court that it would wind up 2G spectrum scam investigations within the country by the end of March 2011 and submit a report to the court.
The agency had registered a case on October 21, 2009 against unknown officials of Department of Telecommunication and unknown private persons and companies and others under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to the CAG report, the rates at which 2G spectrum was allotted resulted in a possible loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 1.76 lakh crore though the agency has estimated the loss, based on the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission, to be close to Rs. 22,000 crore to the exchequer.
During the searches and the ongoing probe into the 2G spectrum scam, the CBI officials also received cooperation from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Official sources said a team of ED officials also joined in the search operations on Wednesday.
Sources in the agency did not rule out the possibility of the probe extending to some foreign countries also and added that the CBI, after examining the documents and evidence gathered so far, would approach the appropriate court for issuing Letter Rogatory, seeking cooperation from the foreign countries.
Keywords: NGO, 2G spectrum scam, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, CBI raid
Vinay Kumar Share · print · T+
An official (sitting, left) speaks to Subramanian (standing, right), an associate of Sadiq Batcha, who is said to be a close friend of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and audit assistant David (sitting, right) during CBI raids in connection with the 2G spectrum probe, in Perambalur on Wednesday. Photo: M. Moorthy
Related
PHOTOS
NEWS
‘Raids show commitment to fight corruption'
2G scam: CBI raids Tamil Maiyam in Chennai
CBI raids residence of senior Tamil journalist
TOPICS
crime, law and justice
corruption & bribery
inquiry
politics
national politics
The CBI raided residences and offices across the country, including those of associates of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi in connection with the 2G Spectrum allocation scam.
As part of its ongoing probe into 2G spectrum scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches in Delhi, Noida and Tamil Nadu at the premises of several companies, their directors and the former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman.
``Searches conducted so far at around 34 places in Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Noida (UP) have led to the recovery of incriminating documents. Searches are still going on,’’ CBI spokesperson Vinita Thakur said in a brief statement.
The agency conducted searches at the office of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, former TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal and a Chennai NGO. The office of Niira Radia – Vaishnavi Corporate Communications in Central Delhi -- and her farm house in South Delhi were among the premises searched by the CBI, sources said. They added that Mr. Baijal, Ms. Radia and two suspected hawala dealers Mahesh Jain and Alok Jain were also quizzed by the CBI sleuths during the searches.
Wednesday’s searches were described as ``follow up’’ searches conducted on December 8 in connection with the ongoing probe into 2G spectrum allocation.
The former TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal who had retired in 2006 and later joined Niira Radia’s company Noesis also faced the heat of the CBI searches as he is alleged to have helped some telecom firms during his tenure as TRAI chief. Mr. Baijal is a former IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre.
The searches were also carried out in the premises of Kamaraj, Associate Editor of Tamil magazine in Chennai 'Nakkeran', brother of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and sister near Tiruchirappalli and Tamil Maiyam, an NGO in which Kanimozhi, MP and daughter of DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi, is on the Board of Directors.
Earlier this month, the CBI had conducted searches at the residence of Mr. Raja and five of his aides and associates, including his then personal secretary R. K.Chandolia, as it intensified its probe into the 2G spectrum scam. The agency has told the Supreme Court that it would wind up 2G spectrum scam investigations within the country by the end of March 2011 and submit a report to the court.
The agency had registered a case on October 21, 2009 against unknown officials of Department of Telecommunication and unknown private persons and companies and others under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to the CAG report, the rates at which 2G spectrum was allotted resulted in a possible loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 1.76 lakh crore though the agency has estimated the loss, based on the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission, to be close to Rs. 22,000 crore to the exchequer.
During the searches and the ongoing probe into the 2G spectrum scam, the CBI officials also received cooperation from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Official sources said a team of ED officials also joined in the search operations on Wednesday.
Sources in the agency did not rule out the possibility of the probe extending to some foreign countries also and added that the CBI, after examining the documents and evidence gathered so far, would approach the appropriate court for issuing Letter Rogatory, seeking cooperation from the foreign countries.
Keywords: NGO, 2G spectrum scam, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, CBI raid
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