2G scam: I was only following orders by Raja, says Chandolia

R K Chandolia, former private secretary to A Raja, on Friday told a Delhi court that he was only following the instructions of the minister and instead of him, the Central Bureau of Investigation should implead Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia as accused in the 2G spectrum case.

Referring from the case records, Chandolia told Special CBI Judge O P Saini that it was Aseervatham Achary, an associate of the minister, who had conspired to bring Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam–run Kalaignar TV on the Tata Sky DTH bouquet by acting as a conduit between Raja and Radia.

Seeking discharge from the case on the ground that he was merely following diktats of his master without any motive, his advocate Vijay Agarwal said, "During conversations, when Radia referred to the deal, no where does Achary ask her what she was talking about. This shows that he (Achary) was well aware of the deal between KTv and Tata being pursued by Raja."

"Going by this, Tata, Radia, Achary and KTv, they all should be made accused in the case. Tata and Radia are big people and the CBI cannot touch them, but why not Achary," he said.

"Deals are being struck between Radia and Tata through Achary who is a conduit. Why are they not in jail when I am in jail even when I have no involvement in the matter," he asked.

Initiating arguments, Agarwal claimed that he was not associated with the DMK, Kalaignar TV or any other telecom company and asked the probe agency to produce a single document where he has put in his signature.

Earlier, Raja and former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura had attempted to drag the prime minister, then finance minister P Chiadambaram, Reserve Bank of India Governor D Subbarao, Attorney General G E Vahanvati and others in the case.