31 firms under scanner in 2G probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday submitted their progress report on their probes into the 2G scam saying they were scrutinising 31 firms.

The probe has now extended to a multitude of firms spanning at least six countries and agencies were seeking help of foreign authorities in tracing the money trail in the massive swindle involving the allocation of telecoms spectrum in 2008.

Four teams of the ED are trying track the flow of money, some of which it expects is illegal.

The Supreme Court on Monday heard the case of cancelling licenses issued by former telecoms minister A Raja, who is accused of leading the 2G spectrum scam, that cost the national exchequer up to 1.76 lakh crore, according to the government?s auditor.

As Raja languishes in jail, the investigating agency has quizzed several people, including his party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam?s (DMK) chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and a number of telecoms companies.

Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi and wife Dayalu Ammal too have been questioned by the CBI.

Shahid Balwa, the former Managing Director of DB Group, that floated Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB) and allegedly paid kickbacks to Raja and his party in lieu of favours during the 2008 allocation process was also arrested.