CBI quizzes Radia, Raja’s turn Friday

Dec 22, 2010 - Age Correspondent |

New Delhi

The CBI for the first time on Tuesday questioned corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in connection with its probe into the 2G spectrum scam involving former telecom minister A. Raja. Mr Raja will appear before the agency on Friday. Mr Raja, who is camping in Chennai, will leave for Delhi on Thursday.

The CBI officials questioned Ms Radia for nearly four hours at her Chhattarpur farmhouse. Sources said that she may be questioned again. The agency had earlier registered a case against unknown officials of DoT and unknown private persons, companies and others under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with alleged irregularities in the allotment of 2G spectrum licences.
According to sources, Ms Radia was asked questions related to her bank transactions. It is reliably learnt that Ms Radia was also questioned about her relationship with Mr Raja and private telecom companies, who were in the race for 2G allotment. It is also believed that she was asked question related to her reported telephonic conversations with top officials of the telecom ministry, former bureaucrats and some scribes. The agency is also preparing a list of those who remained in constant touch with Ms Radia during the time of 2G spectrum allotment, sources said. Sources said the agency has reportedly turned down the request of Mr Raja seeking 10 days’ time to report to the CBI after the latter sent summons to him for questioning. Ms Radia has already been questioned by the ED. The ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in March against unknown DoT officials and representatives of certain private companies in connection with the award of new telecom licences in 2008. Ms Radia’s role first emerged when the income-tax department recorded her conversations allegedly with Mr Raja, some corporate biggies and a few scribes when the process of 2G allotment was going on.
While eyebrows were raised at the CBI’s move to question Ms Radia at her residence, agency officials maintained that she was a woman and that the CBI had to follow the rules, which states that for any “witness” under the age of 15 years or woman, the statement needs to be recorded at his or her residence.

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