The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting raids at the residences of former Telecom Minister A Raja and four officials, including his former personal secretary RK Chandolia, in connection with the 2G scam.
Raids are being conducted at Raja's residences in Delhi and in his constituency Perambulur in Tamil Nadu. A search is on for more evidence and links on the 2G spectrum scam.
Raids are also being carried out at the residences of former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, member Telecom K Sridhar, Deputy Director General, Department of Telecom, AK Srivastava and Chandolia.
CBI sources say Raja may soon be called in for questioning too.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing various cases related to the 2G scam, had come down heavily on the CBI recently, asking why it had not questioned Raja even though the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) faulted him for under-valuing the 2G spectrum and circumventing the rules to favour companies that did not meet the eligibility criteria for spectrum licences. The loss - worth Rs. 1.76 lakh crore - constitutes India's largest-ever scam.
The court had asked why officials who would have been in the know, like the former Telecom Secretary, had not been questioned. It also asked Raja why he had overruled the Prime Minister on 2G spectrum.
Raja was forced to quit as Telecom Minister last month after the CAG report found him guilty. He quit just before the Winter Session of Parliament began, but it was not enough for an Opposition baying for the government's blood on the 2G scam. Opposition parties have disrupted the entire session for almost a month now demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) inquiry into the scam.
The government has held out on that demand and today's raids are being looked upon as a sign that concrete action is in fact being taken.
The timings of the raids are also significant politically. Assembly elections are due in Tamil Nadu in a few months and though Raja's party, the DMK, has so far supported him fully, its bete noir J Jayalalithaa has focussed all her arsenal on the weak link.
For NDTV Updates
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Madras High Court judge accuses Raja of trying to influence him
senior lawyer known to be a close associate of former Telecom Minister A Raja has been suspended from his post in the Tamil Nadu Bar Council for attempting to influence a judge, Justice R Raghupathy.
RK Chandramohan is the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Bar Council. He allegedly tried to influence Justice Raghupathy to grant anticipatory bail to his client - a man named Dr Krishnamurthy and his son - both men were wanted by the CBI for forging mark-sheets.
Last year, the judge stirred a giant controversy when he said in court that a union minister had tried to influence him. Now, today's judgement which dismisses Chandramohan from the Bar Council refers to a letter by Justice Raghupathy written in June 2009. "On 12-6-2009 at about 2 pm during lunch recess while I was in the chamber, HC Madras, my office assistant Mujabur Ali informed me that Mr Chandramohan, Chairman, Bar Council of TN, is waiting and seeking an appointment to meet me...and immediately I allowed him to come in. To start with, he discussed general subjects on advocates. He said that 2 persons, father & son accused in a criminal case are family friends of Union Minister Raja and that the petition filed by them for anticipatory bail must be considered favourably. Simultaneously, he handed over his mobile phone by saying that the Union Minister is on the line to have a talk with me. Right away, I discouraged such conduct of Mr Chandramohnan and told him that the case would be disposed off in accordance with law."
Raja was forced to quit as Telecom Minister last month after a report by the government's auditor found him guilty of under-valuing 2G spectrum and circumventing the rules to favour companies who did not meet the eligibility criteria for spectrum licenses. Raja is a key leader of the DMK and his party's chief, M Karunanidhi, has defended him staunchly.
For NDTV Updates
RK Chandramohan is the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Bar Council. He allegedly tried to influence Justice Raghupathy to grant anticipatory bail to his client - a man named Dr Krishnamurthy and his son - both men were wanted by the CBI for forging mark-sheets.
Last year, the judge stirred a giant controversy when he said in court that a union minister had tried to influence him. Now, today's judgement which dismisses Chandramohan from the Bar Council refers to a letter by Justice Raghupathy written in June 2009. "On 12-6-2009 at about 2 pm during lunch recess while I was in the chamber, HC Madras, my office assistant Mujabur Ali informed me that Mr Chandramohan, Chairman, Bar Council of TN, is waiting and seeking an appointment to meet me...and immediately I allowed him to come in. To start with, he discussed general subjects on advocates. He said that 2 persons, father & son accused in a criminal case are family friends of Union Minister Raja and that the petition filed by them for anticipatory bail must be considered favourably. Simultaneously, he handed over his mobile phone by saying that the Union Minister is on the line to have a talk with me. Right away, I discouraged such conduct of Mr Chandramohnan and told him that the case would be disposed off in accordance with law."
Raja was forced to quit as Telecom Minister last month after a report by the government's auditor found him guilty of under-valuing 2G spectrum and circumventing the rules to favour companies who did not meet the eligibility criteria for spectrum licenses. Raja is a key leader of the DMK and his party's chief, M Karunanidhi, has defended him staunchly.
For NDTV Updates
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Alagiri's son gets married, PM, Sonia convey best wishes
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have sent their greetings to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi expressing their best wishes for his grandson, Dayanidhi Alagiri, who got married here today.
Singh, in his message thanked Karunanidhi for inviting him and said he could not attend the wedding due to busy schedule.
He congratulated the couple and wished them all the best.
Gandhi also wished the couple a happy married life.
Union Minister M K Alagiri's son, Dayanidhi, got married to Anusha, daughter of a Chennai-based lawyer.
News: chennaionline Nov 18, 2010
Singh, in his message thanked Karunanidhi for inviting him and said he could not attend the wedding due to busy schedule.
He congratulated the couple and wished them all the best.
Gandhi also wished the couple a happy married life.
Union Minister M K Alagiri's son, Dayanidhi, got married to Anusha, daughter of a Chennai-based lawyer.
News: chennaionline Nov 18, 2010
No word on BSY's visit to Delhi, to seek Sai Baba's blessings
No word on BSY's visit to Delhi, to seek Sai Baba's blessings
Amid indications that the BJP high command may ask him to step down in the wake of alleged land scams, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday left for Puttaparthi to "seek the blessings" of Sri Satya Sai Baba.
There is no official word yet on Yeddyurappa's visit to Delhi as per the direction of his party top brass.
Yeddyurappa has so far struck a defiant note on quitting and cancelled his visit to Delhi last night after which he has been summoned to meet the leaders today.
Yeddyurappa left for Puttaparthi to participate in the ongoing 85th birthday celebrations of Satya Sai Baba, sources said.
The party's core group which met in Delhi yesterday had authorised BJP president Nitin Gadkari to take a decision on the issue of Yeddyurappa's continuance.
The sources said the leaders felt that it was becoming increasingly untenable for Yeddyurappa to continue in office at a time when the party was carrying on a campaign against the Congress-led UPA at the national level on the telecom scam.
Read more: - The Times of India
Amid indications that the BJP high command may ask him to step down in the wake of alleged land scams, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday left for Puttaparthi to "seek the blessings" of Sri Satya Sai Baba.
There is no official word yet on Yeddyurappa's visit to Delhi as per the direction of his party top brass.
Yeddyurappa has so far struck a defiant note on quitting and cancelled his visit to Delhi last night after which he has been summoned to meet the leaders today.
Yeddyurappa left for Puttaparthi to participate in the ongoing 85th birthday celebrations of Satya Sai Baba, sources said.
The party's core group which met in Delhi yesterday had authorised BJP president Nitin Gadkari to take a decision on the issue of Yeddyurappa's continuance.
The sources said the leaders felt that it was becoming increasingly untenable for Yeddyurappa to continue in office at a time when the party was carrying on a campaign against the Congress-led UPA at the national level on the telecom scam.
Read more: - The Times of India
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Rupee up 9 paise against dollar as stocks rise
The rupee today snapped out of the four-sessions of losing spree and recovered moderately by nine paise to close at Rs 45.22/23 against the US currency following late rebound in local equities amid a weaker dollar overseas.
Good dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, after mid-session too supported the rupee's rise.
In a fairly active trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange ( Forex) market, the local unit opened weak at Rs 45.44/45 a dollar from Tuesday's close of Rs 45.31/32/ a dollar. Yesterday, the market was closed for "Bakri-Id".
It later touched a fresh 2-month intra-day low of 45.58 in line with steep fall in equities where the benchmark Sensex was down by nearly 250 points in mid-morning trade.
But, the Indian currency recovered in the latter part of the day to log a high of 45.2075 before concluding at 45.22/23 on the back of smart rebound in stocks.
In the last four trading sessions, the rupee had depreciated by 101 paise or 2.27 per cent.
The Indian benchmark Sensex today ended up by 65.50 points or 0.33 per cent while all Asian indices too ended in the green, supporting the local unit.
Dollar was broadly trading low against its major rivals after announcement of subdued US inflation data on Wednesday following Federal Reserve's decision to ease the monetary policy by picking up billions of worth of treasury bonds.
The dollar index of six major currencies was down by 0.4 per cent in European market today.
Good dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, after mid-session too supported the rupee's rise.
In a fairly active trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange ( Forex) market, the local unit opened weak at Rs 45.44/45 a dollar from Tuesday's close of Rs 45.31/32/ a dollar. Yesterday, the market was closed for "Bakri-Id".
It later touched a fresh 2-month intra-day low of 45.58 in line with steep fall in equities where the benchmark Sensex was down by nearly 250 points in mid-morning trade.
But, the Indian currency recovered in the latter part of the day to log a high of 45.2075 before concluding at 45.22/23 on the back of smart rebound in stocks.
In the last four trading sessions, the rupee had depreciated by 101 paise or 2.27 per cent.
The Indian benchmark Sensex today ended up by 65.50 points or 0.33 per cent while all Asian indices too ended in the green, supporting the local unit.
Dollar was broadly trading low against its major rivals after announcement of subdued US inflation data on Wednesday following Federal Reserve's decision to ease the monetary policy by picking up billions of worth of treasury bonds.
The dollar index of six major currencies was down by 0.4 per cent in European market today.
Rupee up 9 paise against dollar as stocks rise
The rupee today snapped out of the four-sessions of losing spree and recovered moderately by nine paise to close at Rs 45.22/23 against the US currency following late rebound in local equities amid a weaker dollar overseas.
Good dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, after mid-session too supported the rupee's rise.
In a fairly active trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange ( Forex) market, the local unit opened weak at Rs 45.44/45 a dollar from Tuesday's close of Rs 45.31/32/ a dollar. Yesterday, the market was closed for "Bakri-Id".
It later touched a fresh 2-month intra-day low of 45.58 in line with steep fall in equities where the benchmark Sensex was down by nearly 250 points in mid-morning trade.
But, the Indian currency recovered in the latter part of the day to log a high of 45.2075 before concluding at 45.22/23 on the back of smart rebound in stocks.
In the last four trading sessions, the rupee had depreciated by 101 paise or 2.27 per cent.
The Indian benchmark Sensex today ended up by 65.50 points or 0.33 per cent while all Asian indices too ended in the green, supporting the local unit.
Dollar was broadly trading low against its major rivals after announcement of subdued US inflation data on Wednesday following Federal Reserve's decision to ease the monetary policy by picking up billions of worth of treasury bonds.
The dollar index of six major currencies was down by 0.4 per cent in European market today.
Good dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, after mid-session too supported the rupee's rise.
In a fairly active trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange ( Forex) market, the local unit opened weak at Rs 45.44/45 a dollar from Tuesday's close of Rs 45.31/32/ a dollar. Yesterday, the market was closed for "Bakri-Id".
It later touched a fresh 2-month intra-day low of 45.58 in line with steep fall in equities where the benchmark Sensex was down by nearly 250 points in mid-morning trade.
But, the Indian currency recovered in the latter part of the day to log a high of 45.2075 before concluding at 45.22/23 on the back of smart rebound in stocks.
In the last four trading sessions, the rupee had depreciated by 101 paise or 2.27 per cent.
The Indian benchmark Sensex today ended up by 65.50 points or 0.33 per cent while all Asian indices too ended in the green, supporting the local unit.
Dollar was broadly trading low against its major rivals after announcement of subdued US inflation data on Wednesday following Federal Reserve's decision to ease the monetary policy by picking up billions of worth of treasury bonds.
The dollar index of six major currencies was down by 0.4 per cent in European market today.
Trai recommends 2G licence cancellation, Sibal calls meeting
On the heels of government auditor CAG's castigating report on 2G air wave allocaton, telecom regulator Trai today asked government to cancel nearly 70 licences of five new players including Etisalat, Videocon and Uninor.
Shortly after Trai made its recommendation on the network roll-out failure by these companies that were given licences and spectrum in 2008, new Telecom minister Kapil Sibal is believed to have summoned his top officials for a discussion.
There were also indications that the Telecom ministry could witness a shake-up and the axe could fall on some key officials who worked under former Telecom Minister A Raja, who resigned earlier this week following his indictment by government auditor CAG over 2G spectrum allocation.
The regulator recommended that licences be cancelled in at least 15 circles given to Etisalat, a company earlier known as Swan that CAG had dubbed as a front company of Anil Ambani group, and 10 circles given to Sistema-Shyam.
Besides, it recommended that Unitech group's Uninor be deprived of licences in 8 circles, Videocon in 10 circles and Loop in 19 circles.
Trai, which had recommended penalty for non-compliance with the roll-out obligations, said that this amount could run into several thousands of crores. "So, we had suggested that these licences should be cancelled. This would vacate enormous amount of spectrum (radio waves) and this can be given to companies that are serious about meeting the schedule," the regulator said.
Meanwhile, Sistema-Shyam and Uninor said that they were in compliance with the network roll-out obligations and added that they had not got any notice from either the government or the regulator.
As per the conditions of licence, the licencees are required to roll-out the services in 90 per cent service area in metros and 10 per cent district headquarters in other service areas within 12 months of the date of award of licences.
Trai's action comes amid the Comptroller and Auditor General slamming the Telecom Ministry for irregularity and impropriety in giving licences to new players in 2008, causing a loss of a whopping Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.
The action also coincides with the Supreme Court hearing into the allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008 at 2001 prices.
Telecom Secretary R Chandrasekhar and other senior officials, particularly those dealing with policy and licensing, were believed to have attended the meeting called by Sibal in the aftermath of the Trai recommendations.
Sibal was given additional charge of Communications and IT Ministry earlier this week after A Raja stepped down.
Shortly after Trai made its recommendation on the network roll-out failure by these companies that were given licences and spectrum in 2008, new Telecom minister Kapil Sibal is believed to have summoned his top officials for a discussion.
There were also indications that the Telecom ministry could witness a shake-up and the axe could fall on some key officials who worked under former Telecom Minister A Raja, who resigned earlier this week following his indictment by government auditor CAG over 2G spectrum allocation.
The regulator recommended that licences be cancelled in at least 15 circles given to Etisalat, a company earlier known as Swan that CAG had dubbed as a front company of Anil Ambani group, and 10 circles given to Sistema-Shyam.
Besides, it recommended that Unitech group's Uninor be deprived of licences in 8 circles, Videocon in 10 circles and Loop in 19 circles.
Trai, which had recommended penalty for non-compliance with the roll-out obligations, said that this amount could run into several thousands of crores. "So, we had suggested that these licences should be cancelled. This would vacate enormous amount of spectrum (radio waves) and this can be given to companies that are serious about meeting the schedule," the regulator said.
Meanwhile, Sistema-Shyam and Uninor said that they were in compliance with the network roll-out obligations and added that they had not got any notice from either the government or the regulator.
As per the conditions of licence, the licencees are required to roll-out the services in 90 per cent service area in metros and 10 per cent district headquarters in other service areas within 12 months of the date of award of licences.
Trai's action comes amid the Comptroller and Auditor General slamming the Telecom Ministry for irregularity and impropriety in giving licences to new players in 2008, causing a loss of a whopping Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.
The action also coincides with the Supreme Court hearing into the allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008 at 2001 prices.
Telecom Secretary R Chandrasekhar and other senior officials, particularly those dealing with policy and licensing, were believed to have attended the meeting called by Sibal in the aftermath of the Trai recommendations.
Sibal was given additional charge of Communications and IT Ministry earlier this week after A Raja stepped down.
Alagiri's son gets married, PM, Sonia convey best wishes
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi have sent their greetings to chief minister M Karunanidhi expressing their best wishes for his grandson, Dayanidhi Alagiri, who got married here on Thursday.
Singh, in his message thanked Karunanidhi for inviting him and said he could not attend the wedding due to busy schedule.
He congratulated the couple and wished them all the best. Gandhi also wished the couple a happy married life. Union minister M K Alagiri's son, Dayanidhi, got married to Anusha, daughter of a Chennai-based
Singh, in his message thanked Karunanidhi for inviting him and said he could not attend the wedding due to busy schedule.
He congratulated the couple and wished them all the best. Gandhi also wished the couple a happy married life. Union minister M K Alagiri's son, Dayanidhi, got married to Anusha, daughter of a Chennai-based
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