Sinha said the tape of the conversation was given to a

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Press Trust of India
Last Updated : Feb 12 2013 | 8:05 PM IST
DIG in CBI by a "source" 10 days back and indicated that the interception was carried out by some private entity. Members asked the CBI to find out whether the tape was a "plant" and the "intention" of the source in handing it over to an official. Replying to a volley of questions from the members, Sinha said it is unlikely that the tapping was carried out by any government agency. Chacko said the JPC would not call Singh and Chandra as witnesses as their alleged conversation was not part of the Terms of Reference of the JPC. On the issue of quantification of losses due to allocation of 122 2G licences, the CBI chief told the committee that as per its estimate it was to the tune of Rs 30984.55 crore. "The Supreme Court had directed it to quantify the losses...On the issue of quantification of losses caused to the exchequer due to criminality of intent in the allocation of 122 UAS licences and also allocation of additional spectrum beyond eligibility, CBI has calculated a loss of Rs 30,984.55 crore," Chacko said. He said while Rs 22,000 crore is loss for licences, Rs eight thousand crore is loss due to allocation of additional spectrum beyond eligibility. The probe agency had used the method of indexation to arrive at the figures. The members expressed anguish at the "snail pace" of investigations being carried out abroad. CBI said while cases in India have been investigated, the probe in foreign countries was still pending. The agency has sent Letters Rogatory to Malaysia, United Kingdom, Mauritius and Bermuda and their execution is being pursued with the help of Interpol and respective High Commissions, CBI said in a power point presentation to the JPC. "They cannot do much till the LRs are replied to," Chacko said.
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First Published: Feb 12 2013 | 8:05 PM IST

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