Dec 24: The CBI began its questioning of former Telecom Minister A Raja on Friday in connection with its probe into the 2G Spectrum scam. He is being questioned at agency's headquarters in Delhi.
According to sources the agency is likely to ask questions related to his equations with corporate lobbyist Nira Radia and former Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Pradip Baijal. The agency has already questioned Nira Radia and Pradip Baijal in connection with 2G scam.
The CBI recently conducted searches at the office and residential premises of Radia, Baijal and several Chennai-based companies--with which Raja and his family members are allegedly linked -- in connection with 2G spectrum scam. The agency had earlier registered a case against unknown officials of Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and unknown private persons, companies and others under different sections of Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with alleged irregularities in the allotment of 2G spectrum licenses.
It is also believed that Mr. Raja will be asked questions related to his alleged links with certain Chennai based companies, which were raided recently by the agency, sources added.
A notice under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) had been sent to Raja to appear before it for questioning on Friday. The Enforcement Directorate has also expected to question Mr. Raja very soon. The ED has already registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the month of March this year against unknown officials of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and representatives of certain private companies in connection with the award of new telecom licenses in 2008.