Apprised PM about spectrum allocation, Raja tells court

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Testifying as a defence witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case, former telecom minister A. Raja told a special court here Wednesday that after holding a meeting with then external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and solicitor general G.E. Vahanvati, he "apprised" then prime minister Manmohan Singh about various telecom-related issues, including allocation of 2G spectrum.

"Soon after the meeting (with Mukherjee and Vahanvati), I met the prime minister and apprised him of the happenings and outcome of the aforesaid meeting and I promised and undertook to give a detailed note in this regard," Raja told the court.

Raja told Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini that in December 2007, he and Vahanvati went to meet Mukherjee and an "extensive discussion" took place between them on various telecom-related issues.

He said he sent a detailed letter Dec 26, 2007 containing issue-based description to Manmohan Singh on the basis of the meeting.

"At the end of the meeting, (then) minister for external affairs (Mukherjee) shared with me that he was going to give a separate note to the prime minister in this regard and further directed me to apprise the prime minister separately," Raja said.

Raja was allowed by the court last month to examine himself by appearing in the witness box so that he can defend himself in the case.

According to the government auditor, Raja was biased while distributing 2G mobile airwaves and operating licences to telecom firms, causing a loss of up to Rs.1.76 lakh crore in revenue to the treasury. All the accused, including Raja, are out on bail.