More trouble in store for 2G accused

NEW DELHI: Trouble seems to be mounting for former telecom minister A Raja with the investigating agencies pegging the bribes and kickbacks involved in the 2G scam at as high as 3,000 crore.


The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, which submitted their status reports to the Supreme Court on Thursday, said the former minister deviated from the "first come first served" policy to favour firms close to him.


Raja has been claiming that he had scrupulously followed "first come first served" policy. The status report has kicked the bottom of this claim. The former minister is also accused of tampering with documents for helping companies involved in the scandal. Raja has been charged with entering into criminal conspiracy, forging of documents and cheating.


According to estimates of the agencies the spectrum scam could probably have cost the country close to 50,000 crore, which is more than their initial estimate of around 22,000 crore.


The report has also indicted public sector banks for ignoring internal guidelines for making available large amount of funds to telecom companies.


It said that some of these violation had the sanction of "competent authorities".