2G: I-T Dept allowed to quiz Raja, 5 others

Our Bureau Updated - March 12, 2018 at 12:03 PM.

(file photo) Former Telecom Minister, Mr A. Raja (left), after being produced at Patiala House court and Managing Director of DB Realty, Mr Shahid Balwa (right). PHOTO Sushil Kumar Verma

The Special Court hearing the 2G spectrum case on Thursday permitted the Income Tax Department to question six accused including former Telecom Minister Mr A Raja.

The accused, whom the I-T Department is to interrogate in judicial custody from July 27-29, include Mr Vinod Goenka, Director, Swan Telecom and Managing Director of DB Realty, Mr Shahid Usman Balwa, Director of Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB), and Reliance ADAG's Mr Gautam Doshi, Mr Surendra Pipara and Mr Hari Nair.

The accused will be questioned on income tax-related issues, like Mr Raja on his family income and Mr Balwa regarding Etisalat DB dealings.

Meanwhile, the CBI started its arguments on framing of charges against the accused based on its probe into how Mr Raja allegedly changed the cut-off date arbitrarily and ‘violated’ the first-cum-first-serve policy to favour companies such as Swan and Unitech. The CBI also mentioned the preferential treatment given to companies including Reliance Communications for dual technology services even as permission for the same was delayed to Tata Teleservices.

The CBI’s arguments, according to a ‘summary sheet’, is also on aspects including: award of licences to ‘ineligible’ firms; structuring of Swan and R-ADAG’s alleged links; ‘cheating’ the exchequer; transfer of money from DB Realty to Kalaignar TV and its return and the role of accused including Ms Kanimozhi.

Published on July 21, 2011 08:18