2G scam probe: Niira Radia questioned by CBI

2G scam probe: Niira Radia questioned by CBI

Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia was questioned by the CBI in New Delhi on Tuesday in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

Official sources said a team of CBI reached Radia's farm house at Chhattarpur area at about 10 am to question her on several issues including her alleged involvement in the spectrum allocation.

The CBI sleuths had earlier carried out searches at Radia's residence and the premises of her firm, Vaishnavi Communications, in New Delhi.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also grilled her on allegations of money laundering.

Radia hit the spotlight after her taped telephonic conversations with various influential people including industrialists, politicians and journalists became public.

The Supreme Court is closely monitoring the multi agency probe in the allocation of 2G spectrum to certain telecom firms.

The apex court has asked CBI and ED to submit status reports on their probe to it by 10^th February when the 2G spectrum case will come up for hearing.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report to the Parliament had said that the allocation of 2G spectrum at under valued prices had resulted in the loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.

Meanwhile, the CBI sent a notice to former Telecom Minister A Raja to appear before it for questioning in connection with alleged bunglings in allocation of spectrum to some telecom firms that resulted in loss of at least Rs 22,000 crore to the exchequer.

Similar notices have been sent to others including corporate lobbyist Niira Radia while her close associate and former Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Pradip Baijal was being stioned by the CBI sleuths on Monday, official sources said.

Baijal, a former Disinvestment Secretary, belonged to the 1966 batch of IAS from Madhya Pradesh cadre.

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.

It was not clear as to when Raja has been summoned by the CBI.

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

The premises of Raja, Baijal and Radia were searched by the CBI earlier this month in connection with the case.