A Raja ignored then PM's advise on the issue of entry fee: CBI

NEW DELHI: Former Telecom Minister A Raja had ignored the advise of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue of considering revision of entry fee for 2G spectrum licences, CBI today told a special court.

During the final arguments in 2G spectrum allocation scam case, special public prosecutor Anand Grover said that Raja had responded in a "hurry" to the Prime Minister's November 2, 2007 letter in which Singh had asked Raja to consider revision of entry fee and it indicated that there was a conspiracy.

"In the Prime Minister's November 2, 2007 letter, he had asked Raja to consider revision of entry fee. Raja's response to the Prime Minister indicates another circumstance of conspiracy," he told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

Grover further said "there was no specific answer to the specific issue of revision of entry fee in Raja's letter to the Prime Minister."

He also argued that the Prime Minister is the head of council of ministers and "any request or suggestion by the Prime Minister to a minister to consider any issue has to be taken very seriously by the minister."

He also claimed that Raja had also ignored the advise of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and this was another circumstance which indicated the "rush to favour Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL)".

Grover's arguments today remained inconclusive and would continue tomorrow.

Raja, who is facing trial in the case along with 16 others, had earlier denied the allegations levelled by CBI.