2G scam: Radia, Pawar lock horns

BANGALORE, INDIA: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's alleged links with the DB Realty group, has become a subject of hot debate once again, as corporate lobbyist Niira Radia has reportedly told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that the minister may be controlling the controversial company, which is said to have a role in the 2G scam. However, Pawar strongly refuted the allegations.

Radia said the general perception is the Pawar controls DB Realty.

“On being asked how I came to know that Sharad Pawar had called Raja to get the approvals done...I state that as per the general perceptions in Mumbai as well as outside, DB Realities is directly or indirectly controlled by Sharad Pawar and his family members,” she told reporters.

But she said there was no documentary proof to back up her allegation.

In February, CBI had arrested Shahid Balwa, who was the managing director of DB Realty and vice chairman of Etisalat DB, the Indian telecoms joint venture between Abu Dhabi's Etisalat and DB Group.

'Absolute lie', says Pawar

Calling her statement an "absolutely lie", Sharad Pawar rubbished corporate lobbyist Niira Radia's claim that he pursued the issue of spectrum with former communications minister A. Raja.

"This is absolutely lie and foolish statement and I have no financial or any interest in this company. The person Vinod Goenka … his father knows me from many years. He has set up a milk processing unit in my hometown 20 years back and that unit is going well," Pawar told a TV channel.

She said Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka were key people in DB Reality and in that context she quoted the name of Pawar.

Pawar said he has good family relations with the Goenka family.

"I have good family relations with his father and that is why I know the second generation also very well and they are doing good service for my farmers," he said.

Raja close to Anil Ambani?

Meanwhile, according to a CNN-IBN report, the corporate lobbyist also claimed that Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications controlled Swan Telecom, which wasn't itself eligible for a 2G license because of a cross holding clause.

She also claimed Anil Ambani was close to former telecom minister A Raja, who is an accused in the 2G spectrum scam, and some journalists, the report added.

(With inputs from IANS)