The Enforcement Directorate today questioned corporate lobbyist Niira Radia of Vaishnavi Communications as part of its probe on the 2G telecom spectrum allocation controversy for nearly seven hours. She is likely to be summoned again.
Radia said she’d fully cooperate with the authorities. “The matter is pending before the Supreme Court and still sub judice. I also want to add that we are fully transparent. Whatever information is required from us and would be required as part of the ongoing probe would be provided,” she told reporters.
ED's deputy director, Prabha Kant, said Radia's statement has been recorded. “She has promised to submit certain papers. We would be calling her as and when required,” said Kant.
The recorded telephonic conversation between Radia and others are being examined by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is also likely to summon her soon. CBI had told the Supreme Court earlier this week that it’d complete its investigation and file a chargesheet within three months, as it was examining transcripts relating to 5,000 calls (of which 3,800 have been analysed), 6,000 files and 80,000 pages of documents.
ED is investigating the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and working closely with CBI on this case. The controversy led to the resignation of communications minister A Raja on November 15.
A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, tabled in Parliament on November 16, said the issue of new licences at a price fixed in 2001 had caused a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the government. The report also said as many as 85 licenses of 122 issued in 2008 were actually ineligible.
