The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested former telecom minister A. Raja over his alleged role in the 2G scam scandal that has rocked India’s political life over the last few months, according to local reports.
This arrest reportedly…
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested former telecom minister A. Raja over his alleged role in the 2G scam scandal that has rocked India’s political life over the last few months, according to local reports.
This arrest reportedly follows results from a recent investigation, which found that the ex-minister was directly responsible for procedural lapses in the 2G spectrum scandal.
Raja stepped down in November following allegations of favouritism in the allocations of underpriced 2G spectrum to telecom operators back in 2008. But Raja has always rejected accusations of wrongdoing in that case.
According to a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the government’s auditor, the scam caused a US$40bn loss to the government.
Along with the former telecom minister, two other people have reportedly been arrested – ex-telecommunications secretary Siddharth Behuria, and Raja’s aide, RK Chandolia.
Raja belongs to the DMK political party, which has strong ties with the Congress government. According to local reports, it is feared that Raja’s arrest may spark even more tension within the coalition. Last year, the Indian parliament ended its winter session without passing any legislation.
Back in December, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a coalition of political parties led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reportedly said that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should either face a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), over the 2G scandal, or resign.
Singh, who has enjoyed a reputation for honesty since becoming PM in 2004, is looking to protect his legacy. Although he is not suspected of any direct wrongdoing, investigators are interested in knowing why it took him more than a year to examine a request from the opposition to prosecute Raja.
