India agency raids former Telecom Minister's houses

NEW DELHI – India's top investigative Federal Agency Wednesday searched houses include former telecommunications Minister Andimuthu Raja and four other officials as an investigation into the 2008 allocation of phone bandwidth continued.

Important events in India Telecom scandal

Associated press

Three powerful politicians have resigned in recent weeks, and even the Prime Minister has pressed his righteousness.

Bloomberg News Andimuthu Raja, which last month as telecom Ministers joined

The Central Bureau of investigation for, said Mr. Raja's offices and houses in Delhi and Chennai, CBI spokesman r.k. Gaur.

Mr. Raja resigned as Minister last month after a government audit concluded that the Department Telecom bandwidth without an auction at prices which sold in 2001 was much smaller than in 2008 set than the number of mobile phone users. This decision which examination, said sales deprived the country of a potential $38.9 billion.

Mr. was Raja denied any wrongdoing and has been charged with any crime.

The CBI said it also houses the former Telecom Secretary Siddartha Behura and former Telecom Commission member k. Sridhar, three houses and an Office include Mr. of Raja's former personal Secretary, r. k. Chandolia, and the Office of the Department of telecommunications's for former Deputy Director General, a.k. Srivastava.

The CBI "came, saw some papers and you links," said Mr Behura establishing falling. Neither Mr. Raja the three other men could be; reached for comment the four men not arrested or charged with any wrongdoing.

The CBI investigation for more than a year, go on because it registers corruption against "unknown" people and businesses on the allocation of bandwidth for the second generation of mobile services. An October contain the probe 2009 RAID the offices of the Department of telecommunications.

AFP/Getty Images Andimuthu Raja at a press conference in May when he was still Telecom Ministers.

India's top court hear cases relating to the range scandal and Parliament Public Accounts Committee is seeking the auditor's findings. Opposition parties have disrupted the Parliament procedure since early November, the Government's refusal a mixed parliamentary Committee to investigate to protest the allegations.

Wednesday, said the Department of telecommunications, information about company will issue to receive 85 licences in 2008 sales despite the eligibility criteria. Why shouldn't be punished the company or cancelled licences - will be issued by the end of the week Kapil Sibal said notices - questions, Mr. Raja like last month was minister.

Write toR. Jai Krishna at krishna.jai@dowjones.com Nupur Acharya nupur.acharya@dowjones.com and Romit Guha at romit.guha@dowjones.com

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