Radia hobnobbed with politicians, corporates for Raja

Radia's proximity with politicians, corporate honchos, and journalists, who allegedly played active role in the quest for lobbying for telecom portfolio, becomes evident from her own statements made before the investigating agency.

The statements, which forms the part of the charge sheet filed by CBI in 2G case, said Radia discussed the permutation" and "combination" about the induction of Raja as Telecom Minister while cautioning him to distance himself from Reliance ADAG supremo Anil Ambani.

She had also talked with Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, for securing the cabinet berth for Raja for which Kanimozhi was suggested by her to play a proactive role as informations were provided to her by NDTV Group Editor Barkha Dutt and other journalists about confusion that existed in DMK and Congress for formation of the cabinet.

"I state that I had this conversation with Kanimozhi Karunanidhi after results of general elections 2009. The talk was about general factionalism within DMK and the internal politics. I was suggesting to her to take a more proactive role within the party and with her father for the unity and also for her own career," Niira Radia, Chairperson of Vaishnavi Communication, told CBI.

"We also discussed the permutation and combination about induction of A Raja as Telecom Minister," she said in her statement recorded by CBI.

Apart from from Kanimozhi and Raja, Radia also told CBI of being in talks with Sunil Mittal about Raja's cabinet berth.

She said Raja had straight away told her that nobody outside DMK could interfere in the process.

"I also referred my conversation with Sunil Mittal of Bharti Airtel who conveyed that Anil Ambani was lobbying that Raja should be given the portfolio but Raja had strongly reacted to the same saying what nonsense he was spreading because in DMK beyond Kalaignar nobody can take such a decision."

CBI provided the transcript of conversations between Radia and others to the court and in one of them when Raja asked her to tell Mittal that he has to work with him for five years without causing any "mess", the corporate lobbyist shot back to the DMK leader asking him to "distance" himself from Anil Ambani.

Radia told CBI that she was keenly watching the factionalism and the politics in DMK. Asked about the contents of and reasons for the talks with several persons, she stated that "after the results of general elections 2009, I was briefed by political correspondent Barkha Dutt and other correspondents about the probable developments and confusions that existed in DMK and Congress on formation of the cabinet. I had shared this information with Raja and with Kanimozhi."

"Kanimozhi informed (me that) Congress had promised to give DMK the Telecom Ministry. We also discussed the perceptions being discussed about T R Baalu and Raja.
"I also conveyed her about one rumour that after meeting DMK they (Congress) may suggest that all three names -- Raja, Baalu and  Dayanidhi Maran should be removed and new three name be inducted. We also discussed the permutation and combination about induction of A Raja as Telecom Minister," she told CBI.