The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned Sadiq Batcha, a close aide of former Minister of Telecommunications and IT, A. Raja, along with Mahendra Nahata, HFCL promoter, in connection with the 2G spectrum issue, according to news reports.
It is believed that Batcha helped Shahid Balwa and other private companies in striking business deals in the Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu. He was also Raja?s main conduit for investing ill-gotten money in other companies in Tamil Nadu. He was earlier questioned by CBI twice.
Moreover, Raja?s wife was a director in Batcha?s company Green House Promoters, a Chennai-based export house, which the CBI believes was the main conduit to channelise funds paid as kickbacks in the 2G spectrum allocation issue. Batcha allegedly floated Green House Promoters to divert 2G allocation-related funds.
It is believed that Batcha was also questioned about several other companies, including Equaas, Kovai Shelter and Shivakhamam and that Raja knew Batcha for a long period of time.
According to the CBI, the Singapore-arm of the company (Green House) was set up in 2007, during the allocation of the 2G licences and spectrum. He was one of the persons whose premises were raided on December 8, 2010. The agency has recovered some documents from his office and house. Batcha was confronted with documents of companies which bagged 2G licences. It is believed that the agency wanted to know the names of those individuals who called him to transfer money on behalf of A. Raja into other companies. He reportedly handled all transactions of the former minister. He was also asked about relatives of Raja on whose names investments were made.
