Central Bureau of Investigation grills TRAI former chairman
On Monday CBI grilled former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Pradip Baijal and sent notices to former Telecom Minister A. Raja and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia to appear before it for questioning in connection with alleged 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Mr. Baijal, a 1966-batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, was questioned by the CBI officials for about three and a half hours at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi.
“I have given my clarifications (to the CBI),” he told reporters after the questioning.
Asked what these clarifications were, an apparently agitated Mr. Baijal shot back, “don’t you understand English” and said “no comments“.
Notices were sent to Mr. Raja and Ms. Radia among others in connection with the probe into allocation of spectrum to telecom firms that resulted in loss of at least Rs. 22,000 crore to the exchequer.
In Chennai Mr. Raja was served notice at his official residence under section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code to appear before the agency for questioning.
It was not clear as to when Mr. Raja has been summoned by the CBI. The premises of Mr. Raja, Mr. Baijal and Ms. Radia were searched by the investigating agency earlier this month in connection with the case.
On November 14 A. Raja resigned as Telecom Minister.
