The CBI Wednesday registered a disproportionate assets case against former telecom minister A Raja for allegedly amassing assets worth Rs 27.92 crore “disproportionate to his known and lawful sources of income’’. The case was registered against Raja and 16 others, including his wife Parameswari, nephew Paramesh Kumar, C Krishnamurthy, who is a close associate of Raja and director of Kovai Shelters Promoters Pvt Ltd based in Perambalur, Green House Promoters Pvt Ltd in Chennai which was owned, among others, by Sadiq Basha, an alleged associate of Raja who had committed suicide, Basha’s wife Reha Banu and other close relatives and associates of the former Union minister. [related-post] They have been charged under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for alleged possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income and under the IPC for abetment of the offence. The CBI has alleged that between 1999 and 2010, while serving as MP and Union minister for various ministries, Raja had amassed assets and pecuniary resources to the tune of Rs 27.92 crore in his name and in the name of his family members, friends and close associates, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. Several immovable properties were allegedly acquired in the names of Raja’s friends and family members and other private firms which were, or are, managed by the former minister’s close relatives and associates. The searches were conducted at the residence and offices of the accused across 20 locations including six places in Chennai, one in New Delhi, two in Coimbatore, eight in Perambalur and three in Trichy. The searches led to the recovery of like financial statements, I-T returns, immovable property documents, vouchers, etc.
