The CBI, probing the 2G spectrum scam, on Friday confronted former telecom minister A. Raja with direct questions related to the alleged stakes of his family members in the Chennai-based Green House Promoters.
The agency is also mulling over questioning Pradip Baijal, former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), again. He is supposed to explain why the Trai did not take action against those companies who failed to fulfil roll-out obligations and comply with other conditions of licence, sources added. The agency is likely to make more arrests in a day or two in connection with its probe. The agency on Friday questioned A.K. Srivastava, former deputy director general in the DoT.
The former telecom minister was asked specific questions related to the favour shown by him to certain telecom companies including, M/S Swan and M/S Unitech on Friday.
According to sources, the CBI officials asked Mr Raja about the role of his relatives who allegedly acted as front for certain telecom companies that were allotted spectrum licences. The agency officials also asked how his family members acquired stakes in Green House Exports, owned by Sadiq Basha.
“One of Mr Raja’s nephew, R.P. Parmesh Kumar, is the joint managing director of Green House Promoters. The company is reportedly one of the front companies in the 2G scandal. This Chennai-based company was reportedly formed barely four months after Mr Raja became a cabinet minister (in charge of Environment and Forests) for the first time in May 2004,” sources said. The agency is also probing the alleged transfer of shares to Raja’s niece, who was part of the company, Malarvizhi, sources added.
Mr Raja was asked direct questions about the association of his family members with this company, sources said.