Even telecom firms slip under CBI scanner

They,however,declined to name the telecom firms.

Reacting to the CBI action,Telecom Minister A Raja had said yesterday that he had followed all the procedures laid down by telecom regulator Trai and all decisions were taken after consultation with the Prime Minister.

He had also ruled out stepping down from the Union Cabinet,saying nowhere the CBI has pointed to the minister’s involvement.

“All decisions on spectrum licensing have been taken in accordance with procedures laid down by Trai and in consultation with the Prime Minister,” he had said.

CBI has registered a case against unknown officials of Department of Telecom and unknown private persons and companies under the charge of criminal conspiracy and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Ever since the licences were issued last year,there has been widespread criticism that there could have been loss of thousands of crores to the exchequer on account of irregularities.