CBI searches at residences of Raja, aides in Delhi, TN

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today seized “incriminating” documents after searching the residences of former Union communications minister and DMK MP, A Raja, and those of his relatives and aides in New Delhi and Chennai, in connection with the multi-crore 2G telecom spectrum scam.

The investigative agency carried out the searches at 14 places — nine in the national capital and five in Tamil Nadu.

The searches, which began at 7 am, were conducted at the premises of Raja, his former personal secretary, R K Chandolia, the former secretary of the department of telecommunications, Siddhartha Behura, and the then member of the Telecom Commission, K Sridhar, among others, in New Delhi.

Raja was also questioned by the sleuths during the search. Sources said he might be subjected to a formal questioning later. Raja was forced to resign as minister on November 14, after the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s report that the rates at which 2G spectrum were allotted resulted in loss to the exchequer which could be as high as Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

In Tamil Nadu, ruled by the DMK, the CBI carried out the searches in Chennai, Coimbatore and Perambulur, along with the income tax department.

The searches in Chennai were conducted at the residence and office of Green House Properties’ promoter Sadhick Batcha, a close associate of Raja, who hails from his Perambalur constituency. Raja’s wife, Reha Banu, is one of the directors in the company.

The third search in Chennai was at the residence of Raja’s mother-in-law.

The other two raids were conducted in Coimbatore and one of Raja’s residences in Perambulur.

According to reports, the Chennai-based real estate company ,with an initial capital of only Rs 1 lakh, under the name of Green House Promoters Private Ltd, was registered after Raja became a Cabinet minister (in charge of environment and forests) for the first time in May 2004.

Meanwhile, DMK supremo and state chief minister M Karunanidhi came out in defence of his beleaguered MP. He told reporters in Chennai that Raja should be treated as innocent till proven guilty. “We will not hesitate to take action if he is found to be guilty. He is being targeted because he is a dalit.”