Raja, telcos & babus to be charged in 2G scam

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) has told the Supreme Court that it would charge former telecom minister A Raja with cheating, forgery and corruption. Two companies, their executives, and other government officials will also be charged.

In the same hearing, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), an agency that probes violation of laws governing use of foreign exchange, said it had found evidence of widespread violation of laws governing foreign exchange. The agency said it would start attaching properties of telecom companies allegedly involved in these violations. This would happen after the CBI filed its chargesheet, it said.

Senior counsel KK Venugopal, who appeared on behalf of the CBI and ED, presented the apex court with a status report on their probe in the 2G scam. The contents of the reports were not divulged.

Venugopal said in court the agency will file the main chargesheet against Raja and others before a special court on April 2. Earlier, it had said the chargesheet will be filed by March 31.

Raja, along with his private secretary RK Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and DB Realty promoter Shahid Balwa, will be chargesheeted in the case, said Venugopal.

Swan Telecom’s promoter Shahid Balwa has been arrested by the CBI in connection with the 2G scam. On Tuesday, Arif Balwa, Shahid’s brother, was arrested by the agency.