CBI quizzes jailed Raja again on 2G (Second Lead)
July 18th, 2011 - 9:29 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday questioned jailed former IT and communications minister Andimuthu Raja and two other accused ahead of finalising charges in the alleged 2G spectrum scam.
The CBI questioned Raja and former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and a private telecom firm executive Gautam Doshi for nearly three hours at the Patiala House court lock-up.
The three are in judicial custody at Tihar Jail for their alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
According to sources, the CBI quizzed Raja and Behura regarding an alleged nexus between telecom firms, Loop and Essar, in getting the 2G licences in violation of the Department of Telecom (DoT) norms.
The sources said Behura was also questioned over a similar issue.
A special CBI court allowed the agency to quiz the three accused in the 2G scam within the court complex in the interest of the ongoing probe in what is billed as one of the biggest scandals in India.
The scam, according to the government auditor, has caused the nation a presumptive loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore.
Earlier, the court ruled: “The probe agency will question the three for one hour each between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today.”
Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini rejected the arguments of the defence lawyers that they were in the dark as to why the agency wanted to interrogate the accused again.
“It is between the court and the prosecution. The accused have no right to be heard in this regard at this stage. The application (of CBI) is allowed,” said the court.
The CBI Saturday sought permission from the special court to interrogate the trio.
The sources said the agency will soon file its next supplementary chargesheet by July end which is likely to focus on the role of Essar and Loop in the 2G scam case.
The agency filed its fist charge sheet April 2 and first supplementary on 25th of that month.
- 2G scam: CBI quizzes Raja, two others (Lead) - Jul 18, 2011
- Timeline of the 2G case - Feb 04, 2012
- 2G: Arguments on charges against Essar, Loop Thursday - May 02, 2012
- 2G: Court summons five corporate honchos (Second Lead) - Dec 21, 2011
- 2G: Court order on CBI's fresh set of charges Dec 21 (Lead) - Dec 17, 2011
- 2G scam: A chronology - Feb 02, 2012
- Loop, Essar promoters move bail pleas in 2G case (Lead) - Mar 31, 2012
- 2G Scam: Ravi Ruia, three others issued fresh summons (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- 2G: Cheating charge against promoters of Essar group - Dec 12, 2011
- 2G: Ravi Ruia, three others appear before court - Mar 31, 2012
- Order on framing charges against Essar, Loop promoters May 25 - May 11, 2012
- 2G scam: CBI quizzes Raja, two others - Jul 18, 2011
- 2G: Loop Telecom, Essar move high court - Jan 05, 2012
- Goenka seeks court permission to sign company documents - Jun 04, 2011
- 2G: Court allows Behura to appear before JPC - Mar 30, 2012
Tags: cbi court, central bureau of investigation, crore, defence lawyers, doshi, government auditor, judicial custody, New Delhi, nexus, norms, patiala house court, quizzed, rs 1, saini, scam case, scandals, siddhartha, spectrum allocation, telecom firm, telecom firms