2G Scam: Raja’s denial may further stoke JPC fire

New Delhi: Former telecom minister and key 2G accused A Raja has denied the allegation that he “misled” PM Manmohan Singh saying he took no unilateral decision and kept Singh informed at every step.

“I took no unilateral decisions. Every major decision was taken after consultations with DoT officials, and then with Prime Minister, finance minister and external affairs
minister,” Raja said in a fresh missive to the JPC chairperson P C Chacko. Raja said he “personally discussed” with the Prime Minister all issues, including entry fee, nonauction of spectrum, first-come-first-serve policy and processing of applications till September 25, 2007.

The government has refuted his allegations against the PM, saying it was for the ex-minister to explain if some telecom firms were tipped off about the decision to issue licences on compliance of letters of intent (LoI).

However,with the Opposition up in arms over the JPC draft giving a clean chit to the PM while accusing the Vajpayee government of giving away revenue of Rs 40,080 crore, Raja’s letter will add to the political heat.

Raja said he met the PM on several occasions between November, 2007 and January, 2008 and told him about the telecom ministry’s decision to issue licences on basis of compliance of LoI. The decision to award licences by the LoI method has been criticized as it has been alleged that the procedure was manipulated to favour select telecom firms. Raja claims licences were issued only after PM approved the LoI route for applications being processed.

Privilege notice against Chacko
New Delhi: Outraged at the manner in which the JPC draft report on the 2G spectrum scam was leaked to the media even before it reached most of the 30 panel members, BJP, Left and DMK members submitted privilege notices against chairman P C Chacko in both Houses of Parliament on Monday. TNN
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2G SCAM: Sr public prosecutor, Unitech MD face CBI queries

Voice Samples Taken To Match Audio In Tape
New Delhi: After registering a preliminary enquiry four days ago in the case of an audio tape allegedly having a conversation between senior public prosecutor in the 2G case, A K Singh and Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra, the agency on Monday examined the duo for several hours.

Sources say Chandra and Singh were called to the CBI headquarters around 11 am by the 2G investigating team and were quizzed over the 17-minute conversation, which the CBI says pertains to discussion on prosecution strategy in the case, till evening.

They were also reportedly confronted with the tape audio and their voice samples have been taken to match the voices on tape, sources said. The agency is likely to examine them again as the probe progresses.

However, despite the CBI director Ranjit Sinha on Monday going on record to say that the voices on the tape prima facie appear to be that of Chandra and Singh, Unitech has summarily denied its MD’s connection with the tape calling it “fabricated”.

The CBI has removed A K Singh, who was assisting special public prosecutor U U Lalit in the case since the beginning, pending enquiry, with K KGoyal replacing him.

Sources in agency say that the conversation between Chandra and Singh had been recorded last September but it was sent to the CBI only recently. The agency has filed all important chargesheets in the 2G scam in the past two years even as Aircel-Maxis deal is under investigation. However, sources say the accused trying to influence prosecution officers may harm the case during trial, which is being monitored by both the Supreme Court and the JPC.

“Sanjay Chandra wishes to make it absolutely clear that he has never met the prosecutor in the 2G case outside of court or had any phone conversation with him. He denies the suggestion that his voice is on any alleged recording. It appears a fabricated voice recording has been sent anonymously to the CBI. Any suggestion that Sanjay Chandra is linked with this recording is nothing but an attempt to malign him and prejudice his defence in the 2G case,” Unitech said in a statement.

The CBI in a statement argued
“It has come to the notice of the CBI that a Public Prosecutor was allegedly in touch with, and was discussing certain points regarding prosecution strategy with an accused in the 2G Spectrum allocation case, which is currently under trial before the court of Special CBI Judge at Patiala House Courts. These allegations are being probed.”

JPC to question CBI chief today
    Central Bureau of Investigation director Ranjit Sinhawill be questioned by members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on telecom on Tuesday with regard to the allegations that the agency’s prosecutor in the 2G scam was in unauthorized contact with an accused.

The taped conversation between CBI prosecutor A KSingh and Unitech’s Sanjay Chandra will figure prominently with Opposition MPs like Yashwant Sinha and Gurudas Dasgupta, who are expected to question the CBI chief on the circumstances of the recording and its consequences for the trial.

The CBI chief’s testimony was slated to be one of the last presentations to the JPC along with telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar. But the new revelations may see some members demand more information and seek the presence of additional witnesses. TNN 
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