Make public charges against Raja: CIC to PMO

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Prime Minister's Office to make public "charges of corruption" levelled in the 2G spectrum scam against former telecom minister A Raja along with views of various officials on them expressed in the form of file notings.

The case relates to an RTI applicant seeking to know the reason why Raja was kept in the Cabinet despite serious allegations of corruption against him.

The information was denied to him by the PMO saying it does not have any record relating to allegations of corruption against Raja, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with alleged graft in the award of telecom spectrum during his tenure.

"The appellant has framed his queries in Hindi and his queries are a mix of allegations and his desire for what the nation should be. The Commission has reframed his queries and after discussions with the appellant the reframed query in his application is being given to the PIO," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi pointed out.

Gandhi directed the PMO to provide "attested copies of records regarding charges of corruption against A Raja and copies of file notings or correspondence of the PMO in this regard" before July 10.

The CBI had told the special court that there was evidence of "forgery" in altering of first-come-first-serve policy to allow some companies to get 2G spectrum during Raja's tenure.

Raja who was arrested by the CBI on February 2 in connection with corruption in the award of scarce telecom spectrum is in judicial custody.