2G scam: JPC to start quizzing telecom secretaries

NEW DELHI: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam will start questioning former telecom secretaries including Siddharth Behura who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, and ex-chiefs of TRAI from Thursday.

Behura will be produced before the committee on July 12 after the special CBI court dealing with the 2G spectrum allocation scam case agreed for the same.

He is in jail since February facing charges of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy in the 2G scam.

Besides former telecom secretaries, former chiefs of TRAI will also appear before the committee to record their evidences.

Former secretaries A V Gokak, who was Telecom Secretary between November 1996 and August 1998, Vinod Vaish, Shyamal Ghosh, Anil Kumar, J S Sarma and Nripendra Mishra will be examined on its sittings on July 7 and 8.

Dinesh Shankar Mathur and former chief vigilance commissioner P J Thomas who was also a telecom secretary during Raja's period, will appear before the committee on its sitting on July 12 and 13, the source said.

The secretaries will be quizzed to know the policies adopted during their tenure and other details including the sources of policy recommendations.

Former TRAI chairmen whose statements will be recorded include Nripendra Mishra, S S Sodhi, M S Verma and Pradip Baijal.