CBI to question Raja again in light of fresh evidence
The CBI is expected to start second round of questioning of former telecom minister A. Raja and certain former officials of the department of telecommunications (DoT) very soon. According to sources, the second round of questioning will be done on the basis of fresh evidence, which has surfaced after recent questioning of several officials of the DoT and certain private persons.
The agency has already questioned A. Raja twice. First, he was questioned on December 24 and the agency officials again grilled him the next day. The CBI is likely to make some “significant arrests” in connection with its probe in a day or two, sources added. The CBI, which recently registered a preliminary enquiry in connection with the allotment of spectrum licenses, may also start questioning of the predecessors of Mr Raja very soon, sources added.
The agency had earlier registered a case against unknown officials of DoT and unknown private persons, companies and others under different sections of Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with alleged irregularities in the allotment of 2G spectrum licenses. The CBI recently conducted searches at the office and residential premises Nira Radia, Pradip Baijal and several Chennai-based companies with which A. Raja and his family members are allegedly linked in connection with 2G spectrum scam. The agency officials also conducted searches at the residential premises of two alleged hawala operators — Mahesh Jain and Alok Jain — in Delhi.
Sources said, “The questioning of certain private persons and former DoT officials after the recent raids, the second round of questioning of Mr Raja has become imminent”.
The agency officials are expected to ask specific questions on the issue of advancing dates for allocation of spectrum licenses and also the role of his relatives in some of the companies which allegedly acted as a front for certain telecom firms which were allotted spectrum between September 2007 and January 2008 from Raja this time, sources added.
“Besides, he may be asked about the specific reasons for alleged favour given by the DoT to three telecom companies in allowing the use of GSM technology for the first time for grant of unified access service (UAS) licenses while processing the 2G spectrum issue,” sources said. This time Raja will be asked certain specific questions and will also be asked to reply very specifically, sources added.
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