2G: Raja concludes cross examination of ex-aide

NEW DELHI: Jailed former communications ministerA. Raja Monday concluded the cross-examination of his former aide Aseervartham Achary in the 2G case in a CBI special court here. 

Testifying as a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) witness, Achary told Special Judge O.P. Saini that Unitech's Sanjay Chandra and DB Realty's Shahid Usman Balwa had been meeting Raja in his office since he was the environment and forests minister. 

He said that it was wrong to suggest that he became a CBI witness in the case as Raja did not promote him in politics. He denied that he became a witness as there was a disproportionate assets complaint pending against him. 

Achary was also confronted with his earlier statement recorded by the CBI and a magistrate about meetings of Chandra and Balwa meetings with Raja. 

He denied that while recording his testimony before a magistrate court, he had read out his statement that was recorded by the CBI. 

Raja's counsel and senior advocate Sushil Kumar alleged that the CBI tutored the witness. He also asked Achary about the press conference addressed by Raja in Chennai in connection on the telecom issue. 

Achary said: "It is wrong to suggest that in October 2009, I became a source for the CBI. I am not aware of registration of the first information report ( FIR) in the case." 

Sushil Kumar alleged that Achary was made a witness because the CBI could not find any other way to link Raja to the other accused in the 2G scam. Achary denied this. 

Achary said that he was not aware if the name 'Ashirvatham Achari' that appeared in Subramanian Swamy's book "2G spectrum" referred to him. 

Former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura began his cross examination of Achary after Raja concluded. 

The court fixed Achary's cross examination by counsel S.P. Minocha, appearing for Behura, after the witness said he was not feeling well. 

According to the government auditor, the 2G scam allegedly masterminded by Raja pertained to a biased distribution of mobile airwaves and operating licences, in lieu of kickbacks, to telecom firms that could have cost the treasury up to Rs.1.76 lakh crore in lost revenue. 

Nineteen individuals and six companies are accused in the case. 

Except for Raja and former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, all other arrested accused have been released on bail.