2G scam: Former Trai member quizzed

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday questioned senior bureaucrat and former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) member DPS Seth. This comes after the quizzing of RK Chandolia and AK Srivastava.

Names of four high-profile bureaucrats have figured in the 2G spectrum scandal: former chairman of TRAI Pradip Baijal, former industrial policy and promotion secretary Ajay Dua, former TRAI member DPS Seth and former economic affairs secretary CM Vasudev.

CBI’s probe against the bureaucrats is focused on whether they favoured lobbyist Nira Radia’s firms or any other private telecom firms during their tenure or took up post-retirement jobs as a bargain.

Seth is known to have been closely associated with Raja.
While the government has been on a denial mode since reports started appearing about the questioning of top bureaucrats, Seth’s prolonged presence at the CBI headquarters on Friday seems to be indicating otherwise.

“We wanted to know certain things and he was cooperative,” a senior CBI official confirmed to DNA though refusing to divulge any further details.

Besides Trai, Seth has also held important posts as BSNL chairman. The allegations against Seth and others are that they were in touch with Radia and other telecom companies and may have provided them with strategic advice.