ED quizzes lobbyist Radia, records her statement

NEW DELHI - The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Wednesday quizzed corporate lobbyist Nira Radia here for more than eight hours over the spectrum allocation scam.

ED Deputy Director Prabhakant said: “We have recorded (her) statement. She has promised to submit some papers… We will call her as and when required.”

Coming out of the ED’s zonal office, Radia told reporters: “I am available for full cooperation with the authorities.”

According to Radia, she was “fully transparent” and whatever information was sought from her. “The matter is sub-judice, at an appropriate time I will definitely speak to all of you.”

According to informed sources, Radia, who entered the ED office around 9.30 a.m., was questioned on several issues including the possible violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and her firms’ alleged links with some telecom companies who got second-generation (2G) spectrum in 2008 when A. Raja was the telecom minister.

Tapes containing Radia’s conversations with Raja, some industrialists and journalists have surfaced. The tapes were submitted as part of the evidence in a public interest litigation over the spectrum row.

A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in parliament Nov 16 said the 2G spectrum allotment caused a notional loss of several crores of rupees to the public exchequer. Raja quit Nov 15 as minister due to the spectrum controversy.