CBI questions Raja for over eight hours

NEW DELHI: As part of its investigations into the 2G spectrum allocation scam, the CBI on Friday questioned the former Communications Minister, A. Raja, for over eight hours.

Mr. Raja appeared at the CBI headquarters here at 10.30 a.m. after he was summoned under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He had flown in from Chennai on Wednesday.

He was “questioned in relation to the case registered into the allocation of unified access service licences,'' CBI DIG and spokesperson Bineeta Thakur told reporters.

Mr. Raja was questioned on the circumstances leading to spectrum allocation that has been criticised by the Central Vigilance Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor- General of India (CAG).

The CBI also quizzed him on the tapped conversation he had with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia about allegedly favouring certain telecom companies, informed sources said.

Mr. Raja was forced to resign on November 14 in the wake of the CAG report, which held that the spectrum allocation at undervalued prices resulted in a notional loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.

Several other crucial aspects such as the issue of advancing the dates for allocation of spectrum and on the role of his relatives in some of the companies that allegedly acted as a front for certain telecom firms which got spectrum between September 2007 and January 2008 also formed part of the grilling, the sources added.

“I gave full cooperation to the investigating agencies. I cannot say anything further because investigations are on,'' Mr. Raja told reporters.