India Special: The 2G Scam

Home Minister Chidambaram offers to resign - TV
The government sought to bury a flaming row over a finance ministry note that linked Home Minister P. Chidambaram to the 2G scandal, with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee denying the note reflected his views on the controversial 2008 spectrum allocation. More »Finally, UPA tries to end crisis over 2G note
FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2008 file photo, Indian former Communications and Information Technology Minister Andimuthu Raja gestures while replying, on being cornered by journalists at a press conference in New Delhi, India. The blue-turbaned economist Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is credited with unleashing India's explosive growth, and now stands accused of dragging his heels while one of his government ministers presided over a telecommunications scandal involving Raja that allegedly cost the country billions of dollars, and although there is no suggestion that Singh benefited personally from the scandal, his reputation as a rare leader with clean hands is under threat from the mud slinging of Indian politics.(AP Photo, File)

Timeline of the 2G Scam

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Former Telecom Minister was arrested by the CBI on Wednesday for his alleged role in the … More »Timeline of the 2G Scam
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2G scam: Anil Ambani on CBI radar

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The CBI has informed the Supreme Court that it is probing the alleged involvement of Anil … More »2G scam: Anil Ambani on CBI radar

Latest on the 2G scam

What is the 2G scam all about?

In 2007-08, when the government issued 122 new telecom licences, several rules were violated and bribes were paid to favour certain firms. Several licences were issued to firms with no prior experience in the telecom sector or were ineligible or had suppressed relevant facts, CAG report said.

The violations cost the exchequer $39 billion in lost revenue, the auditor said, equivalent to India's defence budget.

The telecom ministry's process of issuing licences "lacked transparency and was undertaken in an arbitrary, unfair and inequitable manner," the auditor said.

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Truce, says UPA as Pranab, Chidambaram close ranks
The Congress-led government sought to bury a flaming row over a finance ministry note that linked Home Minister P. Chidambaram to the 2G scandal, with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee denying the note reflected his views on the 2008 spectrum allocation.

In a bid to show that the United Progressive Alliance was united, Mukherjee read out a prepared statement outside his North Block office. He was flanked by a grave-looking Chidambaram and cabinet ministers Salman Khurshid and Kapil Sibal.

'Apart from the factual background (on spectrum allocation), the paper (note) contains certain inferences and interpretations which do not reflect my views,' said Mukherjee, the most senior minister and also a Congress party veteran. More on this story

2G note didn't reflect my views: Pranab
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the controversial note on 2G spectrum sent by his ministry to the Prime Minister's Office had 'certain inferences' that did not 'reflect his views' and was a 'background paper'.

'Apart from factual background (there were) certain inferences which do not reflect my views,' he told reporters in a brief statement outside his North Block office, accompanied by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal.

Chidambaram said: 'I am happy with the statement read by my distinguished colleague.' He said the matter is now closed.

Govt slams remark on CBI going soft on Chidambaram

The government objected to a petitioner's allegation that the CBI was shying from investigating Home Minister P. Chidambaram in the 2G case as his ministry controlled the cadre of Indian Police Service officers serving in the probe agency.

The Centre for Public Interest Litigation made the allegation while seeking appointment of two experts to monitor and supervise 2G spectrum investigation on day-to-day basis.

The apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly was told that the contention of CPIL counsel Prashant Bhushan against the IPS officers in the CBI amounted to casting aspersion on them.

Chidambaram favoured 2G auction, CBI tells apex court
The Central Bureau of Investigation strongly defended Home Minister P. Chidambaram, saying that the finance ministry under him had consistently favoured 'auction and indexisation' of 2G spectrum price.

The apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly was told that the 'finance ministry took a consistent stand and never deviated from its position of auction and indexisation of 2G spectrum price (from 2001 top 2008)'

Raja wants separate trial for breach of trust

Former communications minister A. Raja, the prime accused in the 2G spectrum case, contended Thursday in a special court here that the CBI's fresh plea to slap an additional charge of criminal breach of trust against him should be dealt with separately, to enable him to seek bail in the case.

He made the submission before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini.

Raja told the court that the fresh application of the CBI to frame a charge of criminal breach of trust against him should be treated separately. Read on

CBI probe tycoon Anil Ambani in 2G case

Police are investigating the role of top tycoon Anil Ambani in the multi-billion dollar 2G telecoms scandal that has rocked India's political and business elites..

The 52-year-old billionaire is the highest-profile company executive to be drawn into the investigation of whether lucrative radio spectrum and mobile phone licences were sold at below-market prices in return for kickbacks.

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