Probe shows Raja received bribes from Goenka, Balwa

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI’s) probe into the 2G spectrum scam has revealed that former communications minister A Raja, now in judicial custody, had received kickbacks through Vinod Goenka and Shahid Balwa, both in jail now, for allocation of the airwaves three years ago.

The investigative agency found that Goenka’s Dynamix Realty and Balwa’s DB Realty had taken loans from IL&FS Finance Services for Rs 140 crore and Rs 102 crore, respectively.

Dynamix had transferred Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables and Cineyug Films at interest rates between 7.5 and 10 per cent. According to CBI, the transaction “cannot be said to be a genuine business transaction”.

CBI has established that Raja, along with Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, accepted an illegal gratification of Rs 200 crore from Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka from accounts of DB Group Companies in the year 2008-09. This was received by them in lieu of undue favours shown by Raja along with other officials, in allocation of unified access service licence.

Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, both directors at Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables, along with Cineyug Director Karim Morani have been found to have aided and facilitated the payment of Rs 200 crore by giving it “a colour of regular business transaction”.

In view of these allegations, CBI has accused Raja, Balwa brothers, Goenka, Kumar, Morani and Kanimozhi to be prosecuted under section 120-B IPC read with section7/11 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 for illegal gratification and criminal conspiracy.