2G scam: Ratan Tata candid, Radia evasive before PAC

Tata group head Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia were quizzed by Indian Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Ratan Tata reached the Parliament around 3pm to face the lawmakers over spectrum grants.

Tata was questioned by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?s Murli Manohar Joshi-led committee over the 2G allocation irregularities even though a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed to investigate the scam, besides the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Speaking on deposition of Ratan Tata, Joshi told reporters: “He was very candid, very open.”

Joshi said Tata agreed that voice on the tape was his voice.

Vaishnavi Corporate Communications chairperson Radia too faced the committee, which is conducting a parallel probe into the scandal.

Radia was evasive at first, Joshi said, adding that she was not in a mood to place the facts.

Radia has been asked to give a list of recordings she heard, Joshi said.

According to reports, Radia told the committee that some of the leaked tapes were doctored and that she can give a list of such tapes.

The leaked taped conversations of the high-profile lobbyist with Tata and other influential people, including the jailed ex-telecoms minister A Raja who is accused of masterminding the swindle, had rattled the nation.

The appearance of industrialists like Tata, whose group controls top telecoms carriers namely Tata Teleservices, signals the widening of the probe into the 2008 spectrum scandal that could have cost the government Rs 1.76 lakh core if a report by government’s auditor, CAG, is to be believed.

A statement from Tata Sons said earlier, “Mr. RN Tata has expressed his willingness to appear before the PAC on April 4th in connection with the recent developments in the Telecom Sector including allocation of 2G & 3G spectrum.”

His publicist Radia and her firm Vaishnavi Corporate Communications too issued a similar statement and said they would continue to cooperate with the investigations and will be present before the PAC to answer queries and present any clarifications.