| Andimuthu Raja | |
|---|---|
| Constituency | Nilgiris |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | DMK |
| Profession | Lawyer Politician |
| Religion | Hindu |
| As of September 22, 2006 Source: [1] |
|
Andimuthu Raja (Tamil: ஆண்டிமுத்து ராசா) (born May 10, 1963, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian politician from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) political party. He was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha representing the Nilgiris constituency of Tamil Nadu.
In 2011, TIME magazine listed Mr. Raja's 2G spectrum scam as number two on their “Top 10 Abuses of Power” list (just behind the Watergate scandal).[1]
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On October 17, 2008 he submitted his post-dated resignation to the D.M.K party chief M. Karunanidhi over the killings of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.[2] His resignation was a part of the mass resignation of all the D.M.K ministers forming a parts of the coalition UPA central government.
On November 14, 2010, he announced that he would step down[3] from his cabinet post, over the 2G spectrum allocation scandal.
The 2G spectrum financial scandal in the Telecommunications and IT Ministry under A. Raja is noteworthy as the largest political corruption case in modern Indian history, amounting to a record $40 billion loss from underpricing to the Government of India. The alleged modus operandi was telecom bandwidth being grossly undervalued and offered to a chosen few with vested interests, on a dubious 'First-Come-First-Served' basis. It is alleged that it should have been put under a transparent auction system, purportedly advised by higher office.
The bandwidth-spectrum allocation of 2G bandwidth had later come under criticism for gross irregularities. An FIR filed by the CBI claims that the allocation was not done as per market prices, resulting in a scam worth 200 crore (US$38 million).[4] However it had been alleged by Arun Jaitley of Bhartiya Janata Party that the scam is worth around 176,000 crore (US$33.44 billion). The Comptroller and Auditor General holds Raja personally responsible for the sale of 2G spectrum at 2001 rates in 2008, resulting the previously mentioned loss of up to Rs. 1.76 lakh crores (US$40 billion) to the national exchequer.[5] In August, 2010, evidence was submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) showing that Raja had personally signed and approved the majority of the questionable allocations.[6] Although the political opposition was demanding his resignation over the 2G spectrum scam, Raja initially refused to resign stating his innocence, and this view was backed by his party president M.Karunanidhi.[7]
The financial scam eventually led to Raja's resignation[8] on the 14th of November, 2010. There will be further criminal investigation and action on Raja with reports being filed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In 2011, the results of an investigation by retired judge Shivraj Patil, who was appointed by current telecom minister Kapil Sibal, has also found Raja to have been directly responsible for "procedural lapses" regarding the spectrum scandal.[9] The CBI and Enforcement Directorate estimate that Raja could have made as much as Rs 3,000 crore from the alleged bribes.[10]
In January and February 2011, Raja's homes and offices were raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Computers were reportedly seized as part of the evidence that the CBI plans to present against him.[11] Raja and two former associates were arrested on February 2, 2011. The 3 have been taken to Patiala House Courts for enquiries by the CBI on 3 February 2011[12] After the end of his custody with CBI, Raja was sent to Tihar Jail for judicial custody until March 3, 2011.[13][14] His stay in the Tihar Jail was then extended, first to March 17[15] and then to March 31.under judicial custody.
He was later backed by his party DMK after his arrest and in general meeting in Chennai party passed a resolution in favor of Raja stating that until charges are proven he is not guilty.[16]
On February 2, 2011, the CBI arrested Raja. The CBI also arrested R. K. Chandolia, Raja's personal aide, and Siddharth Behura, the former Telecom Secretary.[17][18] Both Raja and R.K. Chandolia are heard in conversation with Niira Radia in the released Radia tapes.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dayanidhi Maran |
Minister of Communications and Information Technology 2007-10 |
Succeeded by Kapil Sibal |