The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will file charges against former telecom minister A. Raja and other government and corporate officials this week in a multi-billion dollar telecom corruption case. The announcement of the first charge sheet in the investigation into a scandal that the CAG estimates cost the exchequer up to $39 billion comes hours after two more arrests of company executives.
The charges may put further pressure on the embattled prime minister, criticised by the Supreme Court for failing to act quickly enough against his minister. While his government will likely survive, the scandals have almost paralysed policymaking.
Police will file charges against Raja, government officials and two companies, on April 2, government lawyer KK Venugopal told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Investigations will be completed by end-May, and more charges are expected to be filed, Venugopal said.
A report into the allocation highlighted irregularities and said kickbacks had been paid when licences were granted in 2007-08 at rock bottom prices. The report forced the resignation and arrest of Raja.
Executives Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the telecoms probe, a spokeswoman for the CBI said.
The two arrested on Tuesday are executives with real estate firm DB Realty, according to the company's latest annual report as well two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Balwa is the brother of former DB Realty Managing Director Shahid Balwa, who was arrested in February in connection with the telecoms investigation. DB Realty's parent DB Group is Etisalat's India mobile joint venture partner.
The CBI lawyers earlier in court accused Raja of having taken bribes from firms which are now the Indian arms of Telenor and Etisalat to grant them lucrative mobile phone licences.
DB Reality declined comment on Tuesday. All of those previously arrested have denied any wrongdoing.
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