Latest update – Correspondence between the Law Ministry, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Office and the former Telecomo Minister A. Raja of the DMK
Latest update – Full text of the CAG Report on the 2G Spectrum scam that has lead to the resignation of the Telecom Minister A. Raja (DMK) from the Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi lead UPA Government.
Note: The Hindu has issued the following clarification on the electronic document referenced below.
A press release on the 2G scam was issued by AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa in Chennai on April 28, 2010. The Hindu is unable to verify the authenticity of a 14-page document purporting to be an official account of intercepted phone conversations and is, therefore, taking it off its website.
The UPA seems all set to score another self goal – this time on account of the 2G spectrum scandal that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has chosen to ignore for sometime now.
While most of the fury and fire on the 2G spectrum scam has focused on the DMK’s A. Raja, the expose today has also revealed a different kind of nexus – between leading media personalities and NGOs lobbying Politicians on behalf of otherwise respected Business Houses.
The Hindu today posted on its website a 14 page electronic document comprising of scanned images of what appear to be correspondence between the CBI, CBDT and internal notes marked “Top Secret”.(This document has since been removed by The Hindu from its website, as per clarification above).
Page 9 of that document mentions the names of several individuals including Journalists in connection with lobbying the Congress on behalf of DMK’s Kanimozhi for Ministerial berths. The references seem to follow a report from a website called Whispers in Corridors and based on what appear to be notes in an “Internal Report” summarizing telephone intercept
conversations.
To be accurate allegations in Page 9 and the rest of the pages in the electronic document are not directly substantiated nor are they authoritative on the authorship of the notes. There also is no independent validation of the authenticity of the correspondence between Government agencies listed in this electronic document.
Also mentioned in this document are instances of lobbying firms arranging for NGOs to file PILs against leading Business Houses on behalf of competition as well as attempts to lobby even the so called incoruptible Left leaders of the CPI-M.
The Hindu reported that this electronic document was released by AIDMK leader Jayalalitha.
Several documents relating to the spectrum scam, including letters written by Vineet Agarwal, former head of the Central Bureau of Investigation team that was investigating the scam, and Ashish Abrol, Joint Director of Income Tax, were released by AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on April 28, 2010. The documents included internal evaluation reports of the Director General of Income Tax, New Delhi, and notes marked ‘Top Secret’ and ‘Strictly Confidential’ that referred to information obtained from tapping of telephone lines of persons suspected to be involved in the spectrum scam
The original scoop on this expose came from Gopikrishnan writing for The Pioneer.
Documents available with The Pioneer show that Central Bureau of Investigation DIG Vineet Agarwal had on November 16, 2009, sought call detail records of Nira Radia from Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) Milap Jain. “It has been reliably learnt that certain middlemen, including one Ms Nira Radia of M/s Noesis Consultancy, were actively involved in the above-mentioned (spectrum scam) criminal conspiracy,” Agarwal’s letter to Jain, seeking the detailed call records, stated.
On November 20, 2009, as per Jain’s instructions, Joint Director of Income Tax Ashish Abrol provided the details of conversation between Radia and key players in the spectrum scam, including A Raja.
“There are some direct conversations between Ms Radia and the Telecom Minister. In some other conservations, Ms Radia boasts of having helped some of the telecom operators in their efforts to obtain licences/spectrums. Ms Radia has also been in regular touch with Shri Chandolia,” confirmed Abrol to the CBI. RK Chandolia was Raja’s private secretary during the time of spectrum allocation and has since been elevated as an economic adviser in the Department of Telecommunication.
“On the basis of specific information received from CBDT, the telephone lines of Ms Nira Radia and some of her associates were put under observation after obtaining permission from the Home Secretary,” Abrol wrote to Agarwal in a letter, marked “Strictly confidential and top secret”.
“The intercept provides the conversation of the target and associates indicating laundering and structured payoffs, transactions and liaison for projects of telecom, petroleum and also the media,” the I-T Department communication to the CBI stated.
Radia’s companies are involved in consulting in telecom, power, aviation and infrastructure. These entities not only managed the media but, as per the recorded conversations, apparently tried to influence policy changes and decisions of various Government departments to suit the commercial requirements of their clients, confirmed the Income Tax Department’s investigation wing to the CBI after analysing the telephone conservations.
“From these conversations, it appears that Ms Nira Radia might have had some role with regards to the award of telecom licences. In a conversation, she guided a new telecom operator on the need to delay the inflow of funds from the overseas investor and not to give the impression to the Government that there has been any ‘windfall’ profit,” the letter added.
In the conversation details available with The Pioneer, Radia was talking about arranging huge money from abroad for Unitech Wireless, which is a major beneficiary in the spectrum scam.
According to CBI sources, Radia got information about the agency’s moves against her from her vast network in the South and North Blocks and left for London in February to avoid arrest for criminal conspiracy in the spectrum scam.
“The detailed telephone transcripts of Radia clearly show how our politicians and bureaucrats were hand in glove with the corporates in looting the public exchequer,” a top CBI official said
The CBDT meanwhile issued this statement denying it had conducted any phone tapping.
Filed under: betrayal of aam admi, DesiPundit, UPA-II Critical Appraisal
A very very interesting set of documents. But it is already clear that this is not going much further… too many cross wires i guess.
BTW found this when looking for more info on Nira Radia: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main39.asp?filename=Ne210608coverstory.asp
Too many high profile and powerful ppl are indicted in this one. Media will be particularly averse to giving it much coverage, since they shield their own pretty fiercly.
Nevertheless, Hindu has put documents online, Mid-Day has done a story and Indian Express calls the CBDT denial “curiously worded”. There may be others that I might have missed.
Two things stand out for me. First, the role of journalists as alleged is not a surprise. They have been known to peddle Congress line and their proximity to Congress is a badly kept secret. The allegations of wheeling dealing therefore fall in place pretty well.
Secondly, there is no doubt that these media figures will brazen it out quite shamelessly. However, it also means that there will one more dent in their credibility – a serious one. Nothing damages a media personality more than loss of credibility.
I am waiting for the day when people watch private news channels for comedy show and read blogs of decent individuals for news.
i cannot understand this, because now everything is transparent in this spectrum scandal and what for this Congress government is folding their hands in this regards.
my only suggestion is that until a new ruling party comes in, nothing can be done. Reason behind is very simple. top from sonia down till families of DMK are invloved in this. its all public money. how these politicians are screwing us. the only way to avoid this is like in gulf countries, the leaders or politicians who do mistake should be hanged to death.
its high time that we are all aware of this spectrum scandal. Unless and untill the brief report of this issue is known to one in every 5 people, it is very difficult to move further. Public should be aware what is spectrum scandal. you journlist and medias have to create an awarness about this to each and every one. why are you all fearing for publishing this issue. Bring that Raja and also all the ministers to the screen. I thinks you journalist have forgotten this saying. But just remember, pen is mightier than a sword. dont fear save our country. heal the poor people. just imagine 60 000 crores. with that money more than 7 to 10 states can have taxless budget if i am not wrong.
Guys, Kasab’s verdict is coming in next couple of days, any one planning of online activism for sending out message to media & government who have a dangerous habit of humiliating Indian public sentiments by their decisions & actions. I have seen few related facebook groups and they arent very active either. Having lost a buddy in the mayhem, I wish that they hang him to death in jail and then hang the dead body again at all the places in mumbai where there was prominent loss of innocent lives. And also at the spot where the lion heart Tukaram omble caught this fox.
Never forget, never forgive.
People in Nilgiris, Raja’s constituency, vividly narrate the story of 4 truckloads of Nokia 1100s being distributed before LS election. Elsewhere in TN, DMK functionaries armed with registers and voting lists were visiting houses in a manner so meticuluous so as to teach the census workers a lesson in field work, distributing Rs 500 to Rs 200 per voter. Aditya Sinha in one of his Saturday columns in NIE was alluding to this while narrating the inside family story where Azhagiri is supposed to have consoled his father with their money and muscle power abilities after the panic created in DMK circles by Jayalalitha Sonia Gandhi meeting in Delhi.
psecular, I don’t really care what happens to Kasab but I must say, such mindless hate to a moron who is mostly powerless now is what makes you horny and ugly.
But yes, I support hanging people. Most people. Other people, especially. But I think hanging maybe inefficient.
How does it matter if Kasab is hanged or not. I would say just let him free so he can go back to Pakistan. It will be considered a humane gesture and the world will praise us. Stop this hatred and two wrongs dont make one right.
According to my tamil friend, Marans didnt give a single paisa to DMK but used it to get into lucrative portfolios. Raja was sent out to do the job correctly and he just did what he was told to do. A bloody feud raged on between Marans & DMK, things settled down only when Marans paid back what they owed to DMK. It was public money and so there were no scruples in distributing it around.
@Pubchick,
True, hatred begets hatred, they are pushing everyone in the world to act savagely like them. Pakistan is an international migraine and you its blogger world counterpart..lol.
You have removed the document from Scribd (the 14 page CBI report on 2G)
Were you made to ?
Thanks
No it was an indepedent decision since there is no longer an authoritative source for the document and Offstumped has no independent validation of it’s authenticity.
Pubchick and Abacus
Problem is none of their relatives died in Kasab’s attack. Pubchick has lot of sympathy for Kasab – who could be a handsome man according to her definition – people who fight these terrorists are ugly horny men. I think these handsome Talibanis should be let loose on Pubchick – in addition Pubchick should be publicly stoned to death for seducing these Talibanis according to Shariat law.
What are you blabbering, Balaji?
Mr.Balaji
Stop the emotional gibberish. Kasab should not be hanged even if he had killed all those people as is being alleged by the media and other random people. Eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.
It is high time the GOI releases him and sends him back to his home country. All those who got killed on 26/11, will they come alive if he is hanged? Gimme a break guys, let us live in peace.I dont know why people on this forum and especially all these internet hindus are so bloodthirsty sitting the whole day on their laptop.
Abacus
Great. Kasab can come back again and kill more people. I think the real test comes when you are faced a similar situation in life. If you have a family, when somebody tries to kill or rape your sister or wife, will you be as forgiving as in Kasba’s case. If you let the attackers rape, I can only tell you that you are a coward. If we follow your priciple, then why do we need an army? Let us allow Pakis to attack and rule us. Keep them happy.
Pubchick
You will not have the right to even blabber if you live in Pak or Afghanisthan.
Mr.Sanjay
Kasab is “Alleged” to have killed. It is not yet proven. Its shameful that educated people like you who earn crores of rupees sit and pontificate through laptop assuming it will lessen your own guilt perhaps in ruining this country. It is becoming tiresome when one gets family and make it an emotional issue. It only reinforces the view that you dont have any valid arguement to make. It also reinforces that no amount of education will make people like you think with an open mind.
Abacus
Now your argument looks very logical. After talking about Gandhiji’s quotes you are now showing your true colors. You have so much love for Kasab who is an “alleged” terrorist even after all live footage of him killing people and so much hatred for me who wanted to argue with you. Where did your tolerance for me vanish? I am now sure that you are either a paki in disguise or an another homegrown jehadi.
People like abacus would not have survived in Pakistan for supporting any indian. They take all the liberties here to make our country weaker. If Indian Govt really wants to solve terrorism, they should track all these people who are traitors and eliminate them. Enough of this jehadi virus.
Mr.Sanjay
He is innocent till proven guilty in the court of law. One can argue with someone who has an open mind not someone who seems to have the mindset of the khap panchayat of Haryana. People like you have ruined this country by your bigotedness and narrow minded focus on irrelevant issues like religion and outdated customs. GOI needs to ban and track down people like you who are hell bent on creating divisions and spreading hatred through emotional gibberish.
Abacus
For traiters like you, ofcourse I am a villain and Kasab is a hero – my conclusion is reinforced when you talk about Kasab’s innocence. Because GOI has appeased people like you – you have the audacity to support Kasab who is responsible for killing inncocents. I challenge you to support Kasab publicly stading in front of Taj in Mumbai. Any way, I was able to atleast expose the person behind all that goody goody quotes you had earlier.
Abacus
“How does it matter if Kasab is hanged or not. I would say just let him free so he can go back to Pakistan. It will be considered a humane gesture and the world will praise us. Stop this hatred and two wrongs dont make one right”
How about showing some humane gesture to me even if I am rude to you. Can you do that? No. I think all humane gestures are for inhuman people like Kasab.
Mr. Sanjay
I am still debating with you though it is obvious to everyone here that you have no brains whatsoever and the points you have made are ridiculous to say the very least. If rajiv gandhi is innocent though his hands are awash with the blood of 3000 people and if modi is innocent after having been spectator for watching 2000 people get killed, if laloo is innocent after bleeding bihar to the bones, if sajan kumar , tyler and advani are all innocent, then why not kasab whose guilt is not yet proven? Give the same treatment to him and then talk.
Abacus,
Whats your point of being here?
If you want to convert any of the visitors here to your point of view – forget it.
And your writings make even Pubchick seem sensible!
Jai
Mr. Jai
Even if Kasab gets hang, what is going to change? Will pakistan stop sending terrorists to bomb india? Will indian muslims stop becming members of jehadi groups? Hanging kasab will make him a martyr and every second muslim will aspire to be like him. Is that what you want?
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