The CBI may start questioning of former telecom minister A. Raja, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and certain politicians of Tamil Nadu in a day or two in connection with its probe into the 2G spectrum scam. The agency is also expected to make some “significant arrests” next week.
According to sources the CBI, which is likely to register more FIRs in connection with the allotment of spectrum licences, may also question predecessors of Mr Raja very soon. The agency had earlier registered a case against unknown officials of Department of Telecommunication (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 licences. The agency has also decided to question certain serving officials of the DoT in connection with its probe into the 2G scam. The agency has so far questioned former top officials of the DoT, who allegedly played crucial role in 2G allotment.
“Some senior DoT officers allegedly granted unified access services licences to a few selected companies at nominal rate by rejecting the applications of the others without any valid reasons thereby causing wrongful loss to the government and corresponding wrongful gain to private persons or companies,” sources said. The licences were awarded to certain companies by putting a cap on the number of applicants, which were against the recommendations of the Trai, sources added. Meanwhile, the ED is also set to send a “letter of request” to authorities concerned in certain countries for gathering details about the alleged investments made by those who reportedly benefited from the 2G spectrum scam.
The ED is also expected to start questioning of certain officials of the DoT in connection with its probe. The ED has already registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against unknown officials of the DoT and unknown private companies in connection with the award of new telecom licences in 2008.