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Saturday, July 30, 2011

Jayalalithaa seeks explanation from PM, Sonia in 2G scam


Jayalalithaa seeks explanation from PM, Sonia in 2G scam

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalaithaa has taken on Prime MinisterManmohan Singh and Congress presidentSonia Gandhi. 

Jayalalithaa has sought explanation from the top UPA leadership on DMK leader A Raja's charge in the 2G spectrum scam. 

TheAIADMK chief has also targeted home ministerP Chidambaram. 

Jayalalithaa's salvo is in contrast to the initial bonhomie expressed by both sides after her massive victory in the state assembly elections.
2G: A Raja's PS accuses CBI of pressurising witnesses to depose
R K Chandolia, former private secretary of A Raja, on Saturday alleged before a Delhi court that theCBI pressurised its witnesses to depose against him in the 2G spectrum case after his arrest. 

"My arrest on February 2, this year was illegal because at that point of time, no prosecution witnesses had deposed against me and CBI, in a bid to frame me, pressurised them to name me as accused," Chandolia's counsel Vijay Agarwal told Special CBI JudgeO P Saini. 

Agarwal, who concluded his two-day-long arguments on framing of charges, claimed innocence saying all the persons, who have either been left out or being made witnesses, should have been before the court as accused. 

Department of Telecom (DoT) official, R P Agarwal, who recorded his statements on various dates with CBI, did not name Chandolia and suddenly, he named the private secretary in his testimony, recorded after the arrest and this reflected the motive of the agency to implicate him, the counsel said. 

"In January and February, the statements (of Agarwal) were recorded and no role was attributed to Chandolia. When his statement was recorded in March, the name of Chandolia surfaced....I am the smallest pie and why they arrested in February when all the incriminating statements were recorded in March." 

"CBI first prepared the draft charge sheet and aligned it later after manipulating the statements of witnesses to suit its case," Agarwal said. 

Earlier, Chandolia followed the line of defence of the former Telecom Minister and continued with the blame game by seeking to implicate Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and others as accused on the ground that it was they who had felicitated the deal to bring DMK-run Kalaignar TV on Tata Sky bouquet.
2G scam will die its own death: Chandolia
 The second generation (2G) spectrum allocation scam will die its own death like the mid-1980s Bofors gun deal scandal, jailed former communications minister Andimuthu Raja's ex-personal secretary R.K. Chandolia told aCentral Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court here Saturday. 

Chandolia's counsel said in the beginning of the Bofors deal scandal, there was a huge "hue and cry" but the case died its own death. 

"Similar is the situation in the 2G case. It will also die its own death," Chandolia's counsel toldCBI Special Judge O.P. Saini. 

He claimed that the probe agency gave him the choice of becoming a witness or an accused in the case. 

Defending himself, Chandolia said he was not the decision making authority for spectrum allocation. 

"I was assisting my minister. Can an assistant ask his lord what decision have you made. I am not concerned whether their decision is right or wrong. I am no one, just a pawn in the chess game. I challenge the CBI. Let them show one sign on a single document. There are a number of people who have signed on papers but the CBI has not called them in," said Chandolia. 

"I am like a child, who is asked to deliver the bag to someone. I have only done that, then what is wrong in it. Why should I be prosecuted?" defence counsel asked. 

"I was used by the minister (Raja)...I used to carry out his instruction," said Chandolia, concluding the arguments on the charges levelled against him. 

"The CBI should prove where have I forged any documents to favour Swan (Telecom) or Unitech (Wireless," said Chandolia. 

"In the Delhi circle, Swan was given preference as due to the Idea and Spice merger, they were not eligible," he said. 

Chandolia said his arrest Feb 2 was illegal as nowhere did the witnesses' statements recorded by the CBI in January and February showed his involvement. 

"His name only figured in the statements in the month of March," said defence counsel, adding that how was it possible that the same witness gave two different statements. 

"The CBI manipulated the charge sheet with a predetermined mind to prosecute me," Chandolia said. 

He said the CBI showed a loss of Rs.30.000 crore to the exchequer in spectrum allocation but there was no word on the loss caused by him. 

"I do not know the amount of loss I caused to the government of India, for which I am prosecuted," said Chandolia, adding that since he had been charged with cheating he must be told about the loss allegedly caused by his actions. 

Chandolia is currently lodged in the Tihar Jail along with 13 others involved in the case. 

Swam Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa would begin his arguments on charges Monday.

Niira Radia

Former aide of Raja seeks to dragRadia, corporate leaders in 2G case

Times of India - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
PTI | Jul 29, 2011, 01.32PM IST NEW DELHI: RK Chandolia, former aide of ex-telecom minister A Raja, today sought implication of corporate leaders and lobbyist Niira Radia in the 2G case as accused, saying they had participated in the alleged "covert ...

Dinakaran resigns

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎15 hours ago‎
New Delhi: A. Raja's former aide RK Chandolia has sought to shift the blame to the former telecom minister for the 2G spectrum scam and implead corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and industrialist Ratan Tata in the case. "They should be made accused in the ...

Anil Ambani lobbied to get Raja telecom ministry:Niira Radia

Times of India - ‎Jul 14, 2011‎
NEW DELHI: In her statement to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia said she had come to know that Reliance ADAG's Anil Ambani was 'lobbying' for former telecom ...

Raveena Tandon to play Niira Radia

Times of India - ‎Jul 14, 2011‎
Reportedly, the self-proclaimed non-political Tandon, is essaying the controversial, corporate lobbyist, Niira Radia in the film.

2G scam: Niira Radia transcripts to be supplied to accused

Daily News & Analysis - ‎Jul 7, 2011‎
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI Acceding the plea by the 2G scam accused for the transcripts of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia's telephonic talks, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday promised a Delhi court to hand it to them on July 12.

2G relief for Tata, Ambani and Radia

Times of India - ‎Jul 13, 2011‎
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to hear a plea seeking direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to include industrialists Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani along with lobbyist Niira Radia as co-accused in the 2G telecom ...

Radia others examined against Sahara allegation

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jul 11, 2011‎
Published on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 20:37 | Source : PTI Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and some top officials of TV channels have been examined by the CBI in its investigations into the allegation against Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and two scribes ...

Positive spin earns film Radia nod

Daily News & Analysis - Shabana Ansari -‎Jul 16, 2011‎
Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia who entered mainstream television channels for her alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam, will now be brought to life on the big screen.

India's sleeping politicians

Siliconindia.com - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
Infamous corporate lobbyist, Niira Radia had pulled him to trouble whe n she linked him to 2G-tainted DB Realty Firm. Pawar had resigned from the group of ministers (GoM) on corruption after Anna Hazare termed him as an example of a "corrupt" minister.

A. Raja puts PM in dock, shakes government

India Today - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
Any investigation under Section 120B of the IPC citing criminal conspiracy is incomplete without Niira Radia. There is a clear case of conspiracy between her, the licencees and Raja.

Exploiting the 'pornography of sorrow'

Times of India - ‎Jul 8, 2011‎
India has seen its share of controversies over phone tapping (Niira Radia) and bugging (the finance minister's office), but unlike NOTW, the media here has not been responsible for such clandestine operations.

SC to hear Tata s plea on Radia tapes tomorrow

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jul 11, 2011‎
Published on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 21:59 | Source : PTI The Supreme Court will take up tomorrow Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata's plea on the right to privacy after the leakage of his telephonic conversations with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia tapped by ...

Murmurs on Murdoch

Hindustan Times - ‎Jul 23, 2011‎
There are some things in common between the eruption of Mount Murdoch in Britain over the News of The World (NoTW) phone hacking saga and the Niira Radia quake in India with the 2G scam as its epicentre. For starters, both have been great disaster...

In lobbying check, officials may meet only trade bodies

Economic Times - ‎Jul 13, 2011‎
NEW DELHI: It could soon be the end of the road for corporate lobbyists, such as Niira Radia, with the government considering a significant change in the way industry interacts with regulators, allowing only trade and industry associations to represent ...

Fearing surveillance, CBI's 2G probe team seeks Blackberry

Daily News & Analysis - Pradip R Sagar - ‎Jul 18, 2011‎
Leak of Niira Radia's tapped phone conversations has only strengthened the CBI's suspicions of a possible involvement of an "outside" hand.

Radia tapes for 2G accused

Hindustan Times - ‎Jul 7, 2011‎
The CBI has agreed to provide transcripts of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia's tapped telephonic talks to the 2G scam accused.

Phone tap probe makes no progress

Times of India - ‎Jul 25, 2011‎
Technically, sources maintain, the Union home ministry missive issued to all states (including West Bengal) in the aftermath of theNiira Radia tapes leak makes it mandatory that a proper monitoring mechanism needs to be evolved and all intercepts, ...

Will Indian media learn the Murdoch lessons?

Economic Times - ‎Jul 24, 2011‎
And they all came together with the disclosure of the Niira Radiatapes that gave an insight into the symbiotic relationship among journalists, corporates, politicians and public relations managers.

2G scam: CBI allowed to file additional documents

The Hindu - ‎Jul 16, 2011‎
A Delhi court on Saturday rejected the objections of the accused and allowed CBI to place on record some additional documents and statements of witnesses, including some transcripts of conversations between corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and others, ...

As race begins for new CM, can Yeddyurappa get his man in?

Indian Express - ‎Jul 28, 2011‎
If the BJP is looking for a clean image, then it cannot ignore Kumar's links to the Hudco scam and also with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia. It is no secret that Yeddyurappa does not like Kumar either.

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Full coverage

2G scam will die its own death: Chandolia

Economic Times - ‎39 minutes ago‎
NEW DELHI: The second generation (2G) spectrum allocation scam will die its own death like the mid-1980s Bofors gun deal scandal, jailed former communications minister Andimuthu Raja's ex-personal secretary RK Chandolia told aCentral Bureau of ...

2G: A Raja's PS accuses CBI of pressurising witnesses to depose

Economic Times - ‎2 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: RK Chandolia, former private secretary of A Raja, on Saturday alleged before a Delhi court that theCBI pressurised its witnesses to depose against him in the 2G spectrum case after his arrest. "My arrest on February 2, this year was illegal ...

Another 2G spectrum scam accused wants Tata role probed

Times of India - ‎17 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: One after another, three 2G scam accused have sought to draw the court's attention to the CBI's "pick-and-choose" policy in the probe, while demanding that other entities, including the Tatas and Systema Shyam, should be investigated and ...

Former aide of Raja seeks to drag Radia, corporate leaders in 2G case

Times of India - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
PTI | Jul 29, 2011, 01.32PM IST NEW DELHI: RK Chandolia, former aide of ex-telecom minister A Raja, today sought implication of corporate leaders and lobbyist Niira Radia in the 2G case as accused, saying they had participated in the alleged "covert ...

Raja's aide names Tatas, Radia in 2G scam

IBNLive.com - ‎21 hours ago‎
New Delhi: Former telecom minister A Raja's personal secretary RK Chandolia on Friday accused the CBI of selective inaction and claimed that the Tatas and Neera Radia are equal conspirators in the 2G scam and the CBI of deliberately let them off. ...

Court dismisses Raja''s pvt secy''s plea to nix case against him

IBNLive.com - ‎22 hours ago‎
PTI | 08:07 PM,Jul 29,2011 New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) A Delhi court today dismissed former Telecom Minister A Raja's ex-private secretary RK Chandolia's plea seeking bail and quashing of proceedings against him in the 2G spectrum allocation case on the...

2G: Raja's aide accuses CBI of blackmail

IBNLive.com - ‎Jul 28, 2011‎
New Delhi: Former telecom Minister A Raja's close aide RK Chandolia on Friday accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of blackmailing him in connection with the 2G case. Raja's private secretary claimed that the probe agency bargained with ...

I only followed my master Raja's instructions: Chandolia

Economic Times - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
NEW DELHI: RK Chandolia, the former private secretary to A Raja,on Friday claimed innocence in the 2G case before aDelhi court, saying that he merely followed the instructions of his "master", the former Telecom Minister. ...

Raja's aide hits out at Tata, Radia

NDTV.com - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
New Delhi: The spirited fight put up by former Telecom Minister A Raja, in which he named the PM, Chidambaram in his defence, has emboldened his ex-personal secretary, RK Chandolia, who in turn trained his guns on Ratan Tata and Niira Radia. ...

Chandolia says he had no hand in 2G decisions

Livemint - Shauvik Ghosh - ‎18 hours ago‎
New Delhi: Hearings into the second-generation (2G) spectrum allocation scam followed a familiar pattern on Friday, with the accused deflecting blame by naming others. RK Chandolia's lawyer Vijay Agarwal told the special court hearing the 2G case that ...

Timeline of articles

Timeline of articles
Number of sources covering this story
2G scam will die its own death: Chandolia
‎39 minutes ago‎ - Economic Times
I was only following orders by Raja : Chandolia
‎Jul 29, 2011‎ - IBNLive.com
I only followed my master A Raja's instructions: ex-aide
‎Jul 29, 2011‎ - Indian Express

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International N...
NDTV.com
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Moneycontrol.co...
The Hindu
TelecomTiger
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Full coverage

Jayalalithaa seeks explanation from PM, Sonia in 2G scam

Times of India - ‎47 minutes ago‎
PTI | Jul 30, 2011, 05.35PM IST CHENNAI: Taking on the UPA government, Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK has demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and home minister P Chidambaram on former telecom minister A ...

Jaya asks for explanation on Raja

Hindustan Times - ‎1 hour ago‎
Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa stepped up attack on UPA with her renewed demand for explanation from the Prime Minister and the Union government on 2G spectrum scam. Voicing the demand of AIADMK,...

Raja throws more muck at Manmohan

Indian Express - ‎Jul 26, 2011‎
A few hours after he blamed the media on Tuesday for misinterpreting his comments that the Prime Minister and the former finance minister were in the know of the scandal-ridden spectrum allocation, A Raja did a volte-face: In a submission to the CBI ...

Chidambaram diverting from 2G issue: BJP

IBNLive.com - ‎Jul 27, 2011‎
PTI | 06:07 PM,Jul 27,2011 New Delhi, July 27 (PTI) BJP today accused Home Minister P Chidambaram of "diverting" the issue of his alleged complicity in the 2G spectrum scam by charging the Opposition of attacking on his stand against right-wing terror. ...

If I'm guilty, so is PM: Raja

Express Buzz - Rk Mohideen - ‎Jul 26, 2011‎
NEW DELHI: Former telecom minister A Raja continued to defend his actions in the 2G scam, alleging that he sought the opinion of the three highest government authorities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, then Finance Minister P Chidambaram and then ...

Raja trying to mislead people: Congress

Indian Express - ‎Jul 27, 2011‎
Congress today dismissed attempts by A Raja to drag Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the 2G controversy saying no one in the country has the moral courage to challenge the honesty and integrity of the PM. "These are all issues before the court and we ...

A. Raja puts PM in dock, shakes government

India Today - ‎Jul 29, 2011‎
After almost six months in jail number 2 of Tihar, when former telecommunications minister A. Raja finally got a chance to speak, he took no prisoners. On July 25, in the packed confines of Judge OP Saini's trial court in Delhi's Patiala House complex, ...

Timeline of articles

Timeline of articles
Number of sources covering this story
Jaya asks for explanation on Raja
‎1 hour ago‎ - Hindustan Times
Raja in court
‎Jul 27, 2011‎ - The Hindu
Raja's statement also indicts Vajpayee: Congress
‎Jul 26, 2011‎ - Indian Express

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NDTV.com
Tehelka
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If I committed crime, so did Tatas and Radia, says A Raja's ex-personal secretary RK Chandolia
Targeting theTatas and lobbyist Niira Radia, former communications minister Andimuthu Raja's ex-personal secretaryR.K. Chandolia on Friday said if he could be accused in the2G spectrum scam, so should they. 

Chandolia began his arguments opposing charges against him, saying that he was a government official who was following the order of his superiors. 

"The deal took place between Radia and the Tatas, they are not in jail, and my client who is not involved is in the dock," Chandolia's counsel Vijay Aggarwal told CBI Special Judge O.P. Saini. 

"If a crime is done by my client, then Tata and Radia are also on equal footing," he stressed. 

Counsel argued that Chandolia only followed Raja's orders. "It was Raja who took Niira Radia's help. My client just followed the orders." 

"Radia called the office that time, my client picked up the phone and she wanted to speak to Raja. As he was not there, she asked him to tell Raja that the KTV problem has been sorted out," said Aggarwal. 

"My client only conveyed what happened, how can he be a conspirator?" he asked, adding that there were no recorded conversations of Chandolia. 

Counsel also targeted Aseervatham Achary, an alleged associate of Raja and a prosecution witness, who was said to have conspired to bring Kalaignar TV on Tata Sky DTH bouquet by acting as a conduit between Raja and Radia. 

"In the conversation tapes whenNiira Radia referred to the deal, nowhere does Achary ask her what was she talking (about). This clears that he was aware of the deal between Kalaignar TV and Tata being pursued by Raja," Aggarwal said, questioning the court why Tata, Radia and Achary are not made accused. 

He added that it was Achary who has been associated with Raja for the past 12 years. 

"Achary helped in cracking the deal between Radia and Tata...then why he is not in jail?" Aggarwal asked. 

Counsel also questioned the CBI's role. "We all know that CBI is the most clean agency, but it does not have guts to touch the Tatas and Radia." 

He added: "They roped my client because after almost a year of investigation, the CBI bargained with other officials saying that either you become a witness and depose against Chandolia or be an accused." 

Aggarwal asked the court how can Chandolia be accused of conspiring with Raja in connection with two letters. 

"Writing an incriminating letter, dictated by Raja, is my offence?" he questioned. 

He added that both the information officers (IO) have two different submissions on Chandolia's presence - one saying Chadolia was present, and the other denying it - when the letter was typed, thus their testimonies were contradictory. 

He also asked the court as to why the court and the prosecution endorses everything that CBI does. 

Denying the CBI's allegations that Chandolia had threatened R.P. Aggarwal, the wireless planning and coordination wing chief, to ensure spectrum is granted to Swan Telecom, counsel said: "These are baseless allegations. Aggarwal was senior to Chandolia...how can he direct him?" 

"R.P. Aggarwal had all the powers to allocate the licenses. He was involved in the conspiracy, not Chandolia. He should be in jail." 

Counsel further told the court that his client was a personal assistant to Raja and had no major role to play. 

In addition, counsel submitted that Chandolia is not a person associated with the DMK, Kalaignar TV or any other telecom company. 

"He is a small poor man who doesn't even had the signing authority," he added, challenging the CBI to show a single document in the charge sheet with Chandolia's signature. 

Chandolia's arguments began Friday, opposing framing of charges against him. 

Before counsel began his arguments, the court dismissed Chandolia's plea that sought interim bail on the ground that the CBI lacks proper sanction to prosecute him. 

Chandolia is lodged in the Tihar Jail along with Raja.
In depth Full Coverage on Spectrum Scam
Spectrum Scam
The Public Accounts Committee(PAC), which has been pressing ahead with its schedule of summoning corporates, lobbyists, journalists, and senior bureaucrats, has decided to finalise its report by this month-end.
30 July 2011 Last updated at 18:53 GMT
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If I committed crime, so did Tatas and Radia, says A Raja's ex-personal secretary RK Chandolia
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