Chennai, Dec 11 (IANS) Former union communications minister A. Raja, under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) scanner for alleged impropriety in the allocation of telecom spectrum licenses to mobile phone companies, met DMK party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Saturday at his official residence here.
The meeting assumes significance as Karunanidhi, who had been staunchly supporting the beleaguered former minister, said Wednesday that the party would take action against Raja if he is found guilty following CBI raids at the latter’s residences in New Delhi and Perambalur in Tamil Nadu.
The central probe agency is likely to question him in connection with the second-generation spectrum allotment issue.
Earlier, speaking to reporters here on his arrival from New Delhi late Friday, Raja said: ‘I will cooperate with the CBI and will comply with the procedures. No one is above the law.’
The CBI searched the homes of Raja’s close relatives and associates in Tamil Nadu and the office of the trust run by his family members. Searches were also conducted at the homes of Raja’s former private secretary R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, member (telecom) K. Sridhar and deputy director general, (telecom) A.K. Srivastava.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing the case, had earlier asked the CBI why it has not questioned the former minister on the issue.
Following the raids at Raja’s residences, Karunanidhi said that action would be taken against the former minister if he is found guilty.
Raja was forced to resign last month after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) indicted him in the what is being called spectrum allocation scam and for causing a notional loss estimated between Rs.58,000 crore ($12.8 billion) and Rs.1.76 lakh crore ($40 billion) to the exchequer.
He is alleged to have sold spectrum licenses on a first-come-first-served basis and avoided an open auction that could have notionally fetched more to the government.
The 2G spectrum saga has crippled parliament since Nov 10 as the opposition has refused to give up its demand for a parliamentary probe into the scam.
