CBI visited movers & shakers

The CBI raids on Wednesday cover all the key decision makers involved in the awarding of telecom licences to the new players in 2008.

The CBI raids on Wednesday cover all the key decision makers involved in the awarding of telecom licences to the new players in 2008.

HT Image

Siddharth Behura, secretary of the department of telecommunications (DoT) and chairman of the Telecom Commission in January 2008, was responsible for all the decisions taken by the department.

However, the decision had actually been taken before he joined as secretary on January 1, though the 2G licenses were awarded on January 10.

Behura objected to the change in the cut-off date for submission of bids, but was overruled by then telecom minister A Raja. "Yes, CBI officials came to my residence and asked questions," Behura said.

AK Srivastava was deputy director general (a joint secretary-level officer) of the licensing branch of the Telecom Commission. The Comptroller and Auditor General, which probed the telecom scam, said some companies knew in advance all the policy decisions and were even ready with their cheques before the cut-off date was announced. It is suspected that this information was leaked from his department.

He used to report to K Sridhara, member, technology, Telecom Commission and ex-officio secretary to the government.

The licensing and wireless planning cell - responsible for planning and issuing spectrum- reported to him. Most of the controversial decisions carry his signature.

RK Chandolia was private secretary to Raja when all the controversial decisions were taken.

He was Raja's right-hand man and used instruct DoT and BSNL on behalf of Raja.

Sources said the CBI has also come across evidence of Chandolia's involvement with a Chinese vendor and a Mumbai-based man, who was a conduit between the Chinese vendor and Raja.