2G scam: Nira Radia being questioned today

NEW DELHI - Corporate lobbyist Nira Radia on Tuesday reached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters for interrogation in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

She along with former Telecom Minister A Raja was served CBI summons on Monday to appear before it for questioning.

The CBI had said in an affidavit to the Supreme Court last month that Radia’s role would be examined. It had told the court that the case had irregularities of “enormous magnitude” having international ramifications.

The CBI also told the court that the telephonic conversations between Radia and others were being examined and she would be called by it at an appropriate time.

Radia was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate last month about allocation of the 2G Spectrum to certain telecom players.

The list of people the CBI is going to question this week reportedly includes Pradeep Baijal, Raja’s aides R K Chandolia and A K Srivastava, Raja’s brother Andimuthu Kaliaperumal, Associate Editor of ‘Nakeeran’ A Kamaraj and several others.

The CBI earlier searched offices of Wireless Planning Cell (WPC), the department responsible for allocating Spectrum, and the office of Deputy Director General (Access Services) of the Telecom Ministry to probe the allegations of connivance of officials with private companies in allocation of Spectrum.

Raja was forced to resign last month under considerable pressure from the Congress, which continues to be attacked in Parliament by the Opposition on corruption charges.

The 2G spectrum allocation has reportedly caused an alleged loss of Rs1.76 lakh crores to the Government, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has stated in a report. (ANI)