New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has collected “ample evidences” against former Telecom Minister A Raja, his wife and 15 others that can prove disproportionate assets case against them. The seizers were made during the searches carried out by CBI at 20 places in Delhi, Chennai, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore.
The agency has seized 6 kg of gold worth Rs worth Rs 1.60 crore and 20 kg sliver worths Rs 7.13 lakh from residences of Raja, his relatives, friends and associates. Interestingly, most of the gold was seized from Raja’s residence in residence at A-33 at Gulmohar Park in Delhi.
“We have also seized 230 documents of immovable properties, lockers in banks and fixed deposits,” said a senior CBI official. While CBI official said that they are still scrutinizing the amount of fixed deposits, a source in the agency said that fixed deposits are worth a few crores.
The investigative agency has also recovered Income Tax returns, share transaction documents and other such related material which will help them in establishing amassing of disproportionate wealth by Raja, who is an accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
The agency, however, refused to divulge the exact details about the seizers made by them during the searches but stated that most of the immovable properties are in names of names of Greenhouse Promoters, Kovai Shelters Private limited and Shivkamam Trading Limited.
The CBI alleged that Raja, his family members and his associates amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs 27.92 crore during the period of 11 years between 1999 and 2010. However, the source hinted that the amount of disproportionate assets may increase as investigation and scrutiny of all the documents gets completed.
On Wednesday, the agency sleuths had carried out searches at residential and official premises at six locations in Chennai, two in Coimbatore, eight in Perambalur, three in Tiruchirappalli and one place – Raja’s residence -- in Delhi.
On Tuesday, the agency officials had registered a case against Raja, his wife and others after the team of CBI officials in Delhi investigating 2G spectrum case submitted a report to senior officers, stating that Raja has suspectedly amassed disproportionate assets.
The CBI has named Raja, his wife Parameswari, his brother Kaliaperumal, his nephew Parmesh Kumar and his wife Kala, close associate C. Krishnamurthy and Rekha Banu, wife of Raja's close associate Sadiq Basha in the FIR registered by the them. Others names in FIR include, Subbudu alias Subramanian, R Pachamuthu, Bhuvaneswari, Santhanalakshmi, K Selvakumari, Ramachandran Ramganesh, M S Malarvizhi Ram and A M Jamal Mohamed and other.
“It is alleged that during the period 1999-2010, while serving as Member of Parliament and Union Minister for various ministries, he (Raja ) had amassed assets and pecuniary resources to the tune of Rs 27.92 crores (approximately) in his name and in the name of family members and his friends and other close associates which were disproportionate to his known and lawful sources of income,” CBI spokesperson had said.
The agency also stated that several of his close relatives and associates had allegedly an “exponential financial growth” under suspicious circumstances and had acquired assets worth several crores of rupees without “sufficient wherewithal” during this period.
“Several immovable properties have been acquired in the names of his friends and family members and other private firms which were and are managed by close relatives and associates of former minister,” the spokesperson said.
Interestingly, Raja had declared assets worth Rs 1.45 crore in his election declaration in 2014, while that of his wife worth Rs 93.93 lakh. His minor daughter holds assets worth Rs 18.15 lakh.
In 2G spectrum case, the former Telecom Minister was arrested by the CBI on February 2, 2011. He stayed in jail for almost 15 months. He was released on bail in May, 2012. Raja, who was forced to resign as minister in November 2010, was the first accused to be arrested in the 2G scam and the last one to apply for and get bail.