The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is finding itself in a bind with Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi insisting that any action against Union telecom minister A Raja be taken only after Tamil Nadu elections are held early next year. Raja is from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) that is led by Karunanidhi.
The Centre, on the other hand, finds itself in the Supreme Court’s crosshairs in the 2G spectrum scam, estimated at Rs60,000 crore. The court has already fixed October 22 as the next date of hearing. The Centre had so far stalled acting against the minister on the ground that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the matter.
In an unusual step, the CBI asked the Supreme Court for six more months to complete its investigations into the case. This is perhaps the first time that the CBI has ever sought six months extra in a case that it has been investigating for over a year.
The CBI handed over its progress report in the case and gave reasons for seeking more time but an upset court did not open the envelope and directed the CBI to appear at the next hearing.
Then, in another unusual step, the government made minister Raja appear before the court. Raja was initially reluctant to do so, saying the Supreme Court was overstepping its jurisdiction by seeking his response in the case where there is no FIR (first information report) against him nor any evidence of illegal gratification.
Raja argued that the principle of collective responsibility of the cabinet should be the guiding principle and that he should not appear individually before the court. He also asserted that he would rather expose those responsible for the wrongdoings than appear. But the Centre was able to prevail upon him and he was represented through his counsel TR Andhyarujina.
The CBI told the court that it is still deciphering telephonic conversations between some journalists and corporate lobbyist Neera Radia, who was allegedly acting on behalf of Raja.
Others linked to the scam are some senior journalists and top industrialists with whom Radia was allegedly associated. It is still not known who taped the telephonic conversations between Radia, the journalists, and others.
Union home minister P Chidambaram had said in Parliament that the tapping was unauthorised and that the government was looking into the matter. But if the tapping was unauthorised, then how did the Income Tax Department get the tapes? Who gave it to the IT Department? And when the IT Department handed over the tapes to the CBI, who leaked its content to the media?
Interestingly, while the tapes run into several hundred hours of conversation, what was leaked to the media is just a few hours worth, giving the CBI the scope to extend its investigation.
Meanwhile, the central government remains extremely worried about the political fallout should the SC get tough on Raja.
Karunanidhi has said even shifting Raja from the telecom ministry at this juncture will weaken him and give his rivals a handle. The DMK, which has 18 Lok Sabha MPs, has also made it clear that Raja cannot be punished merely on the basis of “conjectures and assumptions”.
