2G Case: A Raja’s Statement Recorded

A Delhi CBI court today recorded the statement of A Raja, former Telecom Minister and key accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Special CBI Judge OP Saini started the statement recording and said that it was a "direct conversation" between him and the accused (A Raja).

"Now the statement of the accused will be recorded. It is a direct conversation between the accused and the judge... You (accused) may chose to reply or not reply," the judge said.

Prior to this, the court had supplied a draft questionnaire to the accused. The draft contained 1,718 questions and 824 pages.

The court has postponed the deposition of the promoters of the Essar Group and Loop Telecom till May 19. Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband IP Khaitan and Essar Group director (strategy and planning) Vikash Saraf are facing trial in the case along with the three firms – Loop Telecom Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding Ltd.

"I think there will be no time for you today. The matter is adjourned for recording of statement of accused till May 19," the judge said.
All the accused have denied the charges levelled by the CBI in the case.

Earlier, the court had recorded the statements of 153 CBI witnesses, including Reliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani, former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and Attorney General GE Vahanvati. The statement ran into more than 4,400 pages.

Apart from Raja and Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja's former private secretary RK Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra, and Reliance ADAG executives – Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair – are also facing trial in the case.

Image: Indiatimes