2G scam: Raja took bribes via hawala deals, ED tells SC

Despite valiant efforts by telecom minister Kapil Sibal, the role of his predecessor A Raja in the 2G spectrum scam has now become virtually impossible to defend. The Enforcement Directorate told the Supreme Court in so many words on Tuesday that Raja took bribes from telecom companies.

This emerged as the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation submitted their reports on the 2G spectrum scam to the apex court.

The ED told the court that Raja received various amounts from several telecom companies after the licences were issued. The 2G spectrum allocation payoffs were channeled through hawala transactions, it said.

Thirty-one firms have come under the scrutiny of the ED, which told the Supreme Court that multi-crore rupee foreign transactions relating to the 2G-spectrum scam have been traced to at least six countries.

The agency placed its latest status report of its investigation in the scam in a sealed envelope before a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly, in which it has mentioned that it is seeking the help of foreign authorities in tracking the source of money.

Senior Advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the ED, said that letters rogatory have been sent to Singapore, Cyprus, Jersey and the Virgin Islands in connection with the scam. Similar communications were being sent to two more countries.

He said that 31 companies have so far been summoned and statements of 26 companies have been recorded. Some hawala operators were also involved in the scam and their premises were raided and they were questioned by the ED, he added.