A former aide of the then Telecom Minister, Mr A. Raja, and the CBI's star witness, Mr Aseervatham Achary, on Tuesday confirmed before a Special Court that there was a rift between Mr Raja and the then Telecom Secretary Mr D.S. Mathur.

Mr Achary, who was associated with Mr Raja for almost 10 years, said Mr Raja himself had told him about the rift with Mr Mathur during November-December 2007. This assumes significance because when the 2G scam broke out last year Mr Mathur had told reporters that he had opposed Mr Raja's decision to advance the cut off date from October 1, 2007 to September 25, 2007 for allocating 2G licences. Mr Mathur had also refused to sign files pertaining to 2G licences due to differences with the Minister.

Mr Achary also said he knew that the “burning issues in the Telecom Ministry at that time” were 2G spectrum and licences because he had typed certain letters on that.

Though he denied spying on Mr Raja, Mr Achary said while he was busy in his work, he had heard Mr Raja shouting at Mr Mathur in Mr Raja's camp office at his residence.

On the day of the incident when he entered Mr Raja's room he heard shouting as well as arguments, Mr Achary said. “I heard the voice of Mr Raja at the top of the pitch while that of Mr Mathur at the lowest tone… When I opened the door, I saw them arguing and shouting and closed the door,” he said.

However, he said neither Mr Raja nor Mr Mathur asked him to close the door and he could not make out as to what the argument was about. He also said: “It is correct that I came to know before the said incident that there was some disagreement between the Minister and the Secretary as these facts were being freely discussed among the officers of the Telecom Department.”

Meanwhile, the Special Court is expected to decide on Wednesday regarding taking cognizance of the CBI's second supplementary charge sheet pertaining to the transactions between Essar Group and Loop Telecom.

>arun.s@thehindu.co.in

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