2G spectrum case: A chronology

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The 2G telecom case took another turn on Thursday with second DMK minister Dayanidhi Maran resigning from the union cabinet over his involvement in what is billed one of the biggest scams in India. A timeline of the case:

Oct 22, 2009: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) files a first information report (FIR) against unidentified officials of the department of telecommunications on the 2G spectrum (airwaves) auction, based on a reference from the Central Vigilance Commission.

November first week, 2010: Media publishes contents of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the 2G spectrum auction. The CAG said the public exchequer suffered a notional loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore ($40 billion) due to faulty auction procedure under the then communications minister Andimuthu Raja in 2008.

Nov 9, 2010: Protests start by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Left and other parties, which demand a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the spectrum scandal which washed away the five-week winter session of parliament.

Nov 14, 2010: Raja submits his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Claims he did no wrong.

Nov 16, 2010: CAG report on 2G spectrum allocation tabled in both houses of parliament amidst uproarious scenes.

Dec 8, 2010: The CBI raids the house of Raja and premises of former aides Siddharth Behura and R.K. Chandolia in New Delhi. It also raids houses and offices of Raja's relatives, associates and some journalists and social workers in Tamil Nadu linked to the DMK and Raja. The CBI claims recovering incriminating documents.

Dec 15, 2010: The CBI raids the houses and offices of Niira Radia, a corporate lobbyist linked with Raja. She is subsequently questioned by the CBI several times.

Dec 24-25, 2010, and Jan 31, 2011: The CBI questions Raja in New Delhi.

Feb 2, 2011: The CBI arrests Raja, Chandolia and Behura.

April 2, 2011: The CBI files charges against nine people and three firms -- Raja, Chandolia, Behura, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa, director Vinod Goenka, Unitech director Sanjay Chandra and three officials from the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group -- Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara.

April 20, 2011: Special city court denies bail to Goenka, Chandra, Doshi, Nair and Pipara.

April 25, 2011: In a major embarrassment for Karunanidhi, daughter Kanimozhi named co-conspirator, along with Sharad Kumar of Kalaignar TV, Karim Morani of Cineyug Films, and Asif Balwa and Rajiv B. Agarwal of Kusegaon Realty.

May 20, 2011: Kanimozhi's bail plea rejected. She is sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail. Sharad Kumar also sent to jail.

June 20, 2011: The Supreme Court refuses Kanimozhi's bail plea.

July 6, 2011: The CBI files a status report in the Supreme Court, alleging that Maran had forced telecom promoter C. Sivasankaran to sell his Aircel stake to the Maxis group considered close to his family.

July 7, 2011: Maran resigns from the union cabinet.