CBI searches premises of Niira Radia, Pradip Baijal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today searched two residences and an office of lobbyist Niira Radia in New Delhi and Noida in connection with the 2G spectrum scam. The agency also searched the New Delhi residence of Pradip Baijal, former chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

A total of 34 premises were searched in the National Capital Region and Tamil Nadu, including that of an NGO linked to M K Kanimozhi, MP, the daughter of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karinanidhi.

The offices of Radia’s Vaishnavi Corporate Communications and her farmhouse, both in Delhi, were among the first to be searched, followed by her residence in Noida. Baijal, who retired from Trai in 2006, is employed by another of Radia’s firms, Noesis. The former IAS officer of the 1966 batch was the disinvestment ministry’s first secretary when it was created.

“Investigations have led to links with these people. We are following the trail wherever it goes,” a senior CBI official said.

Today’s operation comes a week after the CBI’s December 8 searches of 14 locations across the country, including the residence of former Union telecom minister A Raja, four associates and relatives in connection with the spectrum case.

The highest number of searches today took place in Tamil Nadu — almost 27 premises in Chennai itself — said a source. Among those under the CBI scanner are brothers Mahesh and Alok Jain, who are allegedly hawala traders. Their residences and offices in Delhi were also searched today.

The 12 companies searched on Wednesday include Green House Promoters, Equaas Estate, Wellcom Communication, Kadir Kamam Estate, Shiva Kamam Trading, Kovai Shelters, Sally Road System, Genex Exim Ventures, JG Exports and Aiyyappa Enterprises. Green House Promoters was floated by A M Sadhick Batcha, one of Raja’s close associates.

Raja has been under the scanner of the income-tax department for Fera violations and routing money to Swan Telecom, which is said to have acquired a stake worth Rs 1,000 crore in Green House Promoters.

The NGO -- Tamil Maiyam – has Kanimozhi as one of its 10 directors. It was founded in July 2002 by Jegath Gaspar Raj, a Sri Lankan Tamil close to the island nation’s Tamil Tigers separatist outfit, as well as Raja.

Searches were also carried out at the residence of a journalist with a leading Tamil magazine, a chartered accountant, and Raja’s brother, Ramachandran, the director of Centre for Climate Change, Anna University.