Raja’s book on 2G scam delayed

July 21, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 06:02 am IST - CHENNAI:

Denying reports in a section of the media that the DMK high-command was against A. Raja, former Union Telecom Minister and an accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scandal, from publishing his book on the scam, sources close to him said the book’s release was delayed as the publisher was addressing legal issues it was likely to evoke. Mr. Raja had two years ago announced that he would be writing a “bare all” book on the scandal.

“The Penguin (the book’s publisher) is already facing over a dozen cases and they want to ensure that the book does not draw another legal battle,” said a source close to Mr. Raja, the DMK’s prominent Dalit face. While he may not be averse to toning down the tenor of his self-defence in the book, Mr. Raja does not want to compromise on presenting “the evidence” he has gathered “to prove his innocence”.

The book, which could run to 400-odd pages, would have a lot of documents annexed to it including various observation made by the Supreme Court in the case and documents obtained through the Right to Information Act.

According to those who had access to the contents of the book, Mr. Raja had obtained through the RTI Act, the minutes of the meeting he had with then Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee who was the chairman of empowered group of ministers on allocation of spectrum, the PMO and the late solicitor general G.E. Vahanvati. “The meeting was held on the advice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after Mr. Raja wrote a letter to him on December 26, 2007. But when the CBI inquired about this, Vahanvati denied such a meeting. Now Mr. Raja has the proof that the meeting did take place,” said the source. The book is also likely to be critical of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, which put the notional loss at Rs 1.76 lakh crore and the CBI. The CBI had ulterior motive in filing the case because it did not like the continuation of the Congress led UPA-II,” Mr. Raja is believed to be claiming in the book.

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