CBI to probe 2G spectrum scam

CHENNAI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will investigate the alleged 2G spectrum scam that has put Union Telecom Minister A Raja in the controversial spotlight.

“CBI has registered a case and we are undertaking investigations. We will not share anything till we complete our investigations,” said Ashwini Kumar, CBI Director.

Meanwhile, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, staged a protest rally and demanded the resignation of Raja over his role in the allocation of 2G spectrum licenses.

“Because of the 2-G spectrum scandal the country has suffered a revenue loss to the tune of Rs one lakh crores. And the involved telecom minister Mr. Raja should be immediately dismissed, a case should be booked against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and he should be arrested,” said AIADMK leader V Mythereyan.

“And to find out the root cause of this mega scam, a joint parliamentary committee probe should be ordered,” he added.

Raja had said in October last year that he would not step down from his position in the wake of charges that his spectrum allocation policies have caused a revenue loss of 60,000 crore rupees.

“I will not step down. Ours is a government that has followed all rules to the latter and spirit by following the recommendations of TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India),” he said.

Raja also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government was involved in the “biggest ever scam”, as it distributed free spectrum to operators depriving the exchequer of over 1,60,000 rupees crore revenue.

Raja added that the NDA government not only distributed free spectrum, but also violated all norms by giving the frequency far in excess of 4.4 MHz to many leading operators. (ANI)