Dec. 21: According to sources, the CBI reportedly asked the corporate lobbyist, Ms Niira Radia questions related to her bank transactions. It is reliably learnt that Ms Radia was also questioned about her relationship with Mr Raja and private telecom companies, who were in the race for 2G allotment. It is also believed that she was asked question related to her reported telephonic conversations with top officials of the telecom ministry, former bureaucrats and some scribes.
The agency is also preparing a list of those who remained in constant touch with Ms Radia during the time of 2G spectrum allotment, sources said. Ms Radia has already been questioned by the ED. The ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in March against unknown DoT officials and representatives of certain private companies in connection with the award of new telecom licences in 2008.
Ms Radia’s role first emerged when the income-tax department recorded her conversations allegedly with Mr Raja, some corporate biggies and a few scribes when the process of 2G allotment was going on.
While eyebrows were raised at the CBI’s move to question Ms Radia at her residence, agency officials maintained that she was a woman and that the CBI had to follow the rules, which states that for any “witness” under the age of 15 years or woman, the statement needs to be recorded at his or her residence.
The CBI had recently conducted searches at the office and residential premises of Ms Radia, former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Pradip Baijal and several Chennai-based companies with which Mr Raja and his family members are allegedly linked in connection with the 2G scam.