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2G scam: CBI grills ex-TRAI head; notices to Raja and Radia

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Press Trust of India New Delhi

CBI today grilled former chairman of 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.

Baijal, a 1966-batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, was questioned by CBI sleuths for about three and a half hours at the agency's headquarters here.

"I have given my clarifications (to CBI)," he told reporters after the questioning.

Asked what these clarifications were, an apparently agitated Baijal shot back, "don't you understand English" and said "no comments".

Notices were sent to Raja and 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.

Raja, who is in Chennai, was served notice at his official residence under section 160 of Criminal Procedure Code to appear before the agency for questioning.

Under the Section, a person is asked to join the investigation and share all information that he or she may have about a case.

It was not clear as to when Raja has been summoned by the CBI. The premises of Raja, Baijal and Radia were searched by the investigating agency earlier this month in connection with the case.

Following allegations relating to the 2G scam, Raja had on November 14 resigned as Telecom Minister.

 

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First Published: Dec 20 2010 | 2:54 PM IST

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