2G scam: CBI-ED team gets vital information from Singapore
The Hindu – In Nilgiris, Raja claims innocence in 2G case
Radhakrishnan D
“There is no basis for the charges framed against me in the (2G) case”, said Nilgiris MP and former Communication Minister A. Raja on Sunday. He was responding to a rousing reception given by the DMK workers here.
Stating that he would prove his innocence in the case and appear before the people of the constituency, Mr. Raja said he will not dwell on matters which are sub-judice. However, certain facts have to be placed before the people.
When the case opened in 2009 the alleged loss estimated by the Central Vigilance Commission was Rs. 22,000 crores. Subsequently the CAG had estimated the presumptive loss to be Rs. 1.76 lakh crores. Later the CBI charge sheet had scaled the figure down to Rs. 33,000 crores.
Regrettably, a section of the media which was harping on the CAG report is continuing to do so, he… Continue reading
DH – 2G: Kanimozhi allowed to visit Tamil Nadu on dad’s birthday
New Delhi, May 31, 2012, (PTI) :
DMK MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, has been allowed by a Delhi court to visit Tamil Nadu on June 3 to celebrate the birthday of her father and party patriarch M Karunanidhi.
Special CBI Judge O P Saini also allowed Kanimozhi’s plea for exemption from personal appearance from the court.
Kanimozhi was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on November 28, nearly six months after she was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on May 20, 2011.
The CBI had arrested her for allegedly receiving Rs 200 crore bribe through the DMK-run Kalaignar TV from Shahid Balwa’s DB Group.
Kanimozhi is facing trial in the case along with 13 persons and three companies.
2G: CBI court charges Essar, Loop promoters
New Delhi: Essar promoters Ravi and Anshuman Ruia, and Loop Telecom’s Kiran Khaitan and IP Khaitan have been charged with conspiracy while Essar’s Director for Strategy and Planning Vikash Saraf has been charged with cheating and conspiracy in the 2G spectrum allocation scam. The Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court also granted them bail on a surety bond of Rs 5 lakh each while charging them.
Advancing arguments on framing of charges, CBI counsel A K Singh said Loop Telecom played “hide and seek” with the Department of Telecom (DoT) and concealed information from it regarding their relationship with Essar Group.
Referring to the conduct of Loop Telecom, he said, “first the company had not filed the clause 8 (of the Unified Access Services Licences guidelines) certificate which was mandatory to be submitted at the time of filing of the application (for spectrum) and secondly, when it gave… Continue reading
Out on bail
“Raja has become a symbol of corruption.”
The question of granting bail to an accused in a case is fairly simple in law but is often difficult and complicated in practice, especially in India. The norm is that bail is the rule and jail is the exception. But former Union telecom minister A Raja, accused of serious charges in the 2G spectrum allotment case, had to spend an exceptionally long period of 15 months in jail before he was granted bail by a CBI special court. He was the last accused to be released on bail in the case. It is a moot point whether investigations should take so long as to deny a person his rightful freedom for very long period. The processes of investigation and the procedures of the court are so long and time-consuming that the basic axioms of justice are sometimes observed only in violation. This… Continue reading
Spectrum Raja sees open sky
After celebrating his 49th birthday alone within the four walls of Tihar Jail six days ago, former telecom minister of 2G spectrum scam notoriety, A Raja was released on bail on Tuesday evening.
CBI special judge OP Saini granted bail to Raja on a personal bond of Rs 20 lakh and two sureties of the like amount and said, “Considering the progress of the trial, period of custody and the fact that all other accused have been released on bail, I am of the opinion that further detention of the accused will not serve any purpose.”
Raja left the jail in the evening amidst much fanfare. Scores of DMK supporters gathered outside the jail to receive him, ignoring the fact that he is the prime accused in the case and the last person to get bail.
The court directed Raja, arrested in February2011, that he would not try to influence… Continue reading
2G spectrum case: A Raja gets bail, to walk out of Tihar jail after 15 months
Raja’s counsel told reporters that the judge called Raja towards him and told him: “Your bail application is allowed.”
“The bail application is allowed,” Special CBI Judge O P Saini said.
The court granted bail to the DMK MP on a personal bond of Rs 20 lakh and two sureties of the like amount. The court while granting bail imposed conditions on Raja that he will not visit Tamil Nadu without its prior permission… Continue reading
2G scam: Chronology of the events
New Delhi: Following is the chronology of the events in the 2G spectrum allocation scam in which the prime accused and former Telecom Minister A Raja was on Tuesday granted bail:
May 2007: A Raja takes over as telecom minister.
August 2007: Process of allotment of 2G spectrum for telecom along with Universal Access Service (UAS) Licences initiated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
September 25, 2007: Telecom ministry issues press note fixing October 1, 2007 as deadline for receiving application for UASL licences.
October 1, 2007: DoT receives 575 applications for UAS licences of 46 companies.
November 2, 2007: The Prime Minister writes to Raja directing him to ensure fair allotment of the 2G spectrum.
November 22, 2007: Finance Ministry writes to DoT raising concerns over the procedure adopted by it. Demand for review rejected.
January 10, 2008: DoT decides to issue licences on first-come-first-served basis, preponing the… Continue reading
2G case: Timeline of key developments
1. May 2007: DMK leader A. Raja takes over as the telecom minister.
2. August 2007: The telecom department initiates the process of the allotment of 2G spectrum for telecommunications along with universal access service licences.
3. November 2007: The finance ministry writes to DoT raising concerns over the procedure adopted by it. A demand for review is rejected.
4. January 2008: DoT decides to issue the licences on a first-come-first-serve basis.
5. May 2009: Complaints are filed with the Central Vigilance Commission about illegalities in the allocation of spectrum to Loop Telecom and Swan Telecom at throwaway prices. Later in the year, the CVC directs the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the irregularities.
6. October 2009: CBI registers its first case and files an FIR against unknown DoT officials and officials of private companies. In the same month, the income tax department conducts raids at DoT offices.
7.… Continue reading
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