Corporate bigwigs queue up at CBI office

After Anil Ambani, investigating agency questions Essar Group CEO Prashant Ruia in connection with its 2G scam probe

Corporate bigwigs queue up at CBI office

After Anil Ambani, investigating agency questions Essar Group CEO Prashant Ruia in connection with its 2G scam probe

On Wednesday it was Anil Ambani; a day later it was the turn of Prashant Ruia. The Essar Group CEO was on Thursday quizzed for close to two hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its headquarters in Delhi in connection with the 2G telecom scam, officials said.

ADAG chairman Anil Ambani and Essar Group CEO Prashant Ruia were
questioned by CBI in New Delhi during the last two days in connection
with the 2G scam.

Sources in the CBI said that Ruia was apparently cross-examined by the CEO of Loop Telecom, Sandip Basu for three hours. Sandip Basu was reportedly accompanied by other officials of Loop Telecom too.

The CBI wants to go into the links between Loop Telecom and Essar. There are allegations that Essar violated crossholding norms with Loop telecom. Essar was one of the nine companies that won licenses for 2G spectrum case there are allegations that they violated the 10 per cent crossholding norm in Loop Telecom.
u00a0"Ruia was more or less asked the same questions as Ambani on Wednesday because the accusations are more or less the same," sources said.

They added that more bigwigs and owners of companies who had benefited from the 2G scam would be called for questioning in the coming days. Meanwhile, former Telecom Minister A Raja was produced in court on Thursday and was sent to judicial custody as his 14-day police custody was over.

DMK under scanner
Sources in the CBI said that Kanimozhi of the DMK, daughter of the DMK patriarch Karunanidhi is also likely to be questioned by the agency in connection with the scam. Kanimozhi was heard in conversations with corporate lobbyist Nira Radia and the discussions around the appointment of Raja to his then ministerial assignment. "She is likely to be questioned in the next few days," sources stated.