'CBI doesn't buy zero loss theory'

CBI Director AP Singh  deposed before the  PAC  and answered key questions relating to the  2G  allocation irregularities and alleged violation of established procedure in the distribution of radio-frequencies under former telecom minister A Raja or his predecessors.

PAC chairman Murli Manohar Joshi said  the CBI director had informed the committee that  it was  incorrect to say the government had made no losses in the 2G spectrum allocation, as  Sibal had claimed.

“The most important thing he (the CBI chief) said was that as far as he has looked into the matter, it is wrong to say that zero losses occurred but because he is primarily involved in criminal investigations, he can't give an exact number to the losses,” said Joshi.

The CBI’s assessment may put the telecom minister in trouble as the investigation of the CBI is being supervised by the Supreme Court, according to sources.

Two weeks ago, the CBI arrested   Raja and two of his close aides, RK Chandolia and Siddharth Behura and on February 8, nabbed Shahid Balwa, the promoter of D B Realty that  floated Swan Telecom, which Raja allegedly favoured in spectrum allocation.
Describing Sibal’s remark against the PAC an insult to the Parliamentary system, Joshi had shot off a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. The Speaker has responded to Joshi who will be  meeting her  to discuss the alleged impropriety.

Asked whether BJP leader and former telecom minister Arun Shourie will also be called by the PAC, Joshi said he is to depose before the CBI and the panel will decide after seeing the outcome of the CBI questioning.

He said Shourie is presenting himself to CBI on February 21 and the PAC may discuss the issue with him thereafter.  Shourie has accused that Raja was a “client” of  Sibal and that was the  reason of the telecom minister defending him.

On the question whether Sibal will also be deposing before the PAC, Joshi said the committee will take a view on the issue shortly.

Asked whether PAC was scrutinising the alleged money transfer in the telecom scam through hawala transactions, Joshi said this question would be placed before the CBI.
Joshi said irrespective of the constitution of  the  JPC on the spectrum issue, the PAC would continue with  it’s constitutional obligation to investigate it. He gave no time-frame for the completion of the PAC scrutiny and skirted queries on the possibility of deposition of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before it.