Amid growing attack on Telecom Minister A Raja over alleged scam in spectrum allocation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to take a decision on his continuance in the Union Cabinet after his return from Seoul on Friday, highly placed sources said.
Former telecom minister A Raja met Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam chief M Karaunanidhi in Chennai on Saturday, three-days after the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids at his residences in connection with the 2G scam. The outcome of the meeting held at Karaunanidhi's residence was, however, not known.
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa on Tuesday demanded that Union Communications and IT Minister A Raja resign and face a probe on the 'spectrum allotment scam'.
Telecom Minister Raja's 1st day at work.
After a month of protest against commencement of trial, former Telecom Minister A Raja on Thursday opened his defence with the cross-examination of key Central Bureau of Investigation witness Aseervatham Achary, who was his former additional private secretary.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday informed the Delhi high court that its appeal against the acquittal of former telecom minister A Raja and 16 others in the 2G spectrum allocation case was 'ripe for hearing'.
Operators say 10-paisa, 25-paisa calls not possible.
On September 13, the Supreme Court issued notices to Telecom Minister A Raja and the CBI following a petition filed by two activist groups and senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta which alleges that the 2G spectrum allocation cost the exchequer a loss of Rs 70,000 crore. Guha Thakurta explains why he filed the petition.
It's difficult to say whether the CBI will find enough proof against telecom minister A Raja or whether it will get caught in the parcel of half-truths he's been dishing out on how he's just followed the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the actions of his predecessors.
Telecom minister A Raja on Tuesday said he followed the same procedures as his predecessors in awarding licences and allotting spectrum and decisions were taken in conformity with the opinion of the top law officer.
Former Telecom Minister A Raja's private secretary R K Chandolia had threatened several senior telecom ministry officials to ensure grant of spectrum to Swan Telecom which was ineligible for getting the spectrum licence, Central Bureau of Investigation said on Saturday in its chargesheet on 2G scam.
Telecom Minister A Raja said on Friday that he has met Home Minister P Chidambaram over the issue of import of telecom equipment, especially from China, and hoped the issue would be resolved "in a couple of weeks".
Given how the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai's) recommendations on 2G spectrum will hit telecom firms, it's not surprising that telecom stocks have plunged. Of course, the fun and games have only begun since it is up to Telecom Minister A Raja to decide whether to accept the recommendations, which ones to accept, and when to accept.
Putting at rest the controversy over issuance of new telecom licenses on 575 applications, the government on Monday said in the Lok Sabha that these would be issued as per the existing policy which does not put any restriction on the number of operators.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is believed to have asked Telecom Minister A Raja to ensure full competition among service providers and disfavoured referring the controversial spectrum allocation issue to a Group of Ministers.
Admitting the Central Bureau of Investigation appeal, the high court said there are "some contradictions" in the trial court's judgment which require "deeper examination".
Sticking to its demand that A Raja be allowed to depose before the JPC on 2G, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Thursday said the panel's report will be a "waste" if he does not get an opportunity to give an explanation on the allegations.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the parties shall file brief written submissions not exceeding five pages.
The Delhi high court will pronounce its verdict on Friday on whether to admit the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal challenging the acquittal of former telecom minister A Raja, firms and others in the 2G spectrum allocation 'scam' case.
In DMK circles, Raja is seen as the top-most mobiliser of funds for elections. 'The leadership sees him as having done more for the party from Delhi than even Murasoli Maran.'
The solicitor general and the TDSAT have both okayed Raja's moves.
Jailed former Telecom Minister A Raja on Wednesday told a Delhi court that he would get Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the then finance minister P Chidambaram and the current Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal summoned as witnesses to prove that the government did not incur any loss in the 2G allocation.
Communications Minister A Raja met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday and briefed him about the developments in the telecom sector including recent policy decision like introduction of number portability and releasing spectrum for third generation (3G) mobile services. The meeting lasted for about 25 minutes, official sources confirmed but did not give details.
Within hours of reports that Mukherjee himself was at the receiving end of such calls, Raja activated his ministry to take steps against such calls that 'encroach' into the privacy of telecom consumers, an issue that has been haunting every single consumer despite the regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's attempts to ban such a nuisance.
An Income Tax department team will fly down from Chennai on Wednesday to question former telecom minister A Raja in Tihar jail, for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday stuck to its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the 2G spectrum allocation, saying the arrest of former Union Telecom Minister A Raja was not enough and his "godfathers" should be exposed.
Terming the charges with regard to allocation of spectrum in 2008 against him as baseless, Telecom Minister A Raja on Monday said the allegations in no way have affected the day-to-day work.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday questioned former telecom minister A Raja's close aide Sadiq Batcha in connection with its probe into the 2G spectrum scam.
Backing his party colleague A Raja, prime accused in 2G spectrum scam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Tuesday expressed happiness over his securing bail.
Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday alleged that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was equally guilty as former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja in the 2G spectrum allocation scam since all decisions were taken by the two together.
'He is trying to divert attention. The media is creating unnecessary hype. When Raja says he was doing things at PMO's behest it does not necessarily mean that the prime minister is involved. Dr Manmohan Singh is a person who needs to be revered than merely praised,' says Constitutional expert Fali S Nariman.
Indicted in the draft JPC report, former Telecom Minister A Raja on Monday hit back maintaining that "every major decision", including entry fee and non auction of spectrum, was taken after consulting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee.
Former Telecom Minister A Raja, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case, was Thursday allowed by a Delhi court to visit Tamil Nadu till November 25 from Friday.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday carried out raids at 27 places in Tamil Nadu and seven places in Delhi in connection with its probe in the 2G spectrum scam.The CBI also raided the residence of former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Pradip Baijal in connection with the scam. CBI sleuths also raided the residence of corporate lobbyist Nira Radia in connection with the probe in 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Swamy recalled that he had filed a petition to the prime minister in November last year seeking the sanction to launch criminal investigation on a private complaint under different sections of the PCA.
The Telecom Commission, the policy-making wing of the DoT, will soon take up the issue of divestment in state-run BSNL, Telecom Minister A Raja said on Wednesday.
Former telecom minister A Raja has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to return the Joint Parliamentary Committee report on the 2G spectrum scandal and resubmit it with his written statement.
In a development that may help jailed former Telecom Minister's A Raja's defence in court, the telecom regulator has informed the CBI that Trai did not recommend the auction of 2G spectrum in 2007, implying that there was no loss to the exchequer in the award of licences.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited had invited bids to add 93 million GSM lines about two years ago and one of the leading vendor Nokia-Siemens Network was disqualified on technical issues and since then the PSU has not been able to place the orders because of various reasons including legal battles.
Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Wednesday said action will be taken against former telecom minister A Raja if he was found guilty in the 2G Spectrum scam.
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