2G scam: Raja's diary under lens

NEW DELHI: A diary purportedly containing details of payoffs to politicians of the ruling combine and journalists was found by sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation who searched the official residence of former telecom minister A Raja.

Raja’s residences in Delhi and hometown Perambalur (Tamil Nadu) were raided by CBI on Wednesday in connection with 2G spectrum allocation case.

The diary confiscated by CBI is being scrutinised for payments made either directly or through his close associates for the 2G spectrum allocation. According to a CBI source, the diary contains names of a few hawala dealers who may have routed money to foreign countries.

The Enforcement Directorate has already traced money trail of telecom companies that benefited from spectrum-distribution by Mr Raja and their links with a slew of Chennai-based companies having ties with Raja’s family-members and business associates.

Chandolia, who was repatriated to the Indian Economic Service by Kapil Sibal in one of his first acts as the new telecom minister, was subjected to an intense interrogation by CBI officials last night. Like Siddhartha Behura, the former telecom secretary, Chandolia too is believed to have pleaded innocence, arguing that he was merely complying with his minister’s diktat.

CBI had earlier this year subjected former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Pradip Baijal to a gruelling interrogation on decisions taken during his stint. He is said to have offered vital clues to the investigative agency.

CBI had a day earlier raided residence of Raja’s associates, including Department of Telecom deputy director-general A K Srivastava, former Telecom Commission member (technical) K Sridhara, besides those of Chandolia and Behura.

The official premises of Raja’s business partner Sadiq Batcha in Chennai were also searched by CBI. He too was whisked away later for interrogation.