The spectrum controversy as regards the 2G-spectrum allocation in
the beginning of this year has got mired in controversy is well
known to us all. That the Telecom Minister A Raja along with others
seem seriously involved and implicated in this has been alleged by
many. But overruling and brushing aside all these allegations as
rubbish, Raja moves around confidently because his mentor and DMK
leader M Karunanidhi is standing fully with him. Like a true
politician, who always has the knack of finding any possible
scapegoat, Karunanidhi has found the Caste of his minister as his
greatest armour. "People can't tolerate the rise of a humble Dalit",
he says and that is the end of it. As if being Dalit, being Muslim,
being Brahmin, being Yadav, being Tamil, being Punjabi, being
Assaamese or any other such brand is a licence to commit all follies
and then fall back upon these for rescue.
But a few very important facts related to some of the personal
financial and professional involvements of Raja have emerged lately
which clearly point to the direct involvement of this first-time
minister. But will all this help in yielding justice? Or will this
case also fall on the back burner to remain cozily placed for years
together, to be used and dumped as per the suitability of the
political requirements.
Presently the matter is under the scanner of the Delhi high court
and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
The facts are as follows. A Chennai-based real estate company with
an initial capital of only Rs 1 lakh by the name of Green House
Promoters Private Limited was registered in the required manner
barely four months after Raja became a Cabinet Minister (in charge
of Environment and Forests) for the first time in May 2004. One AM
Sadhick Batcha, a close associate of Raja who hails from his
Perambalur constituency was its Managing Director and his wife Reha
Banu its director. Later on, many of Raja's close relatives like his
brother, nephew, niece and a few others became directors in the
company. They include Raja's elder nephew RP Paramesh Kumar (joint
managing director), Minister's brother, A Kaliaperumal ( director)
of Green House, R Ram Ganesh, son of Raja's elder brother A
Ramchandran (director) who is also an IftS officer. Soon the share
capital of the firm got up to nearly Rs 3 crore in only14 months.
More interesting things were yet to come. In February 2007, a lady
by the name of Ms. MA Parameswari, joined the board as a director.
Nothing noticeable in this except the fact that Ms Paramerswari is A
Raja's wife. Even this is not wrong or illegal but the fact that the
minister did not inform the Prime Minister of his wife's business
activities as per the Services (Conduct) Rules certainly is.
Interestingly the Minister's official residence also acted as his
wife's business address. But sometimes in early 2008 his wife
resigned from the directorship of the company, though before doing
so she transferred her shares to Raja's niece, Malarvizhi.
Meanwhile the company went on going leaps and bounds, with offices
as far as in Singapore. As if this is not enough, Parameswari and
other of his relatives also became active partners in another
company Equaas Estates Private Limited floated hardly a month after
Green House in September 2004, again apparently dealing in real
estate which came to have such an unimaginably high turnover of Rs
755 cr in its very first year of operation. No information or
affidavit regarding this business association of Ms Parameswari was
given to the concerned authorities, just as in the previous case. In
this company also, the managing director is Sadhick Batcha, with
Raja's nephew RP Paramesh Kumar as the joint managing director.
So how come are these companies skyrocketing to dazzling heights in
the times of global recession when the rest of the Infrastructural
and realty companies are feeling the heat to such a great extent? Is
it prima-facie believable? Does it not seem only too logical that
the kickback from deals like that of Swan Telecom Private Limited,
having being allotted the 2G Spectrum licence in a controversial
manner for Rs 1,537 crore in October 2007 and having sold 45 per
cent of its shares to Etisalat, the UAE telecom giant, for $900
million (approximately Rs 4,500 crore) and Unitech, another real
estate company, which got a licence to operate in 22 circles for Rs
1,651 crore and similarly within weeks of acquiring the circles,
sold 60 per cent shares for Rs 6,120 crore to a Norwegian company,
Telenor contribute to the coffers of these two companies? What else
can give a possible and plausible explanation?
And what does the minister have to say on all this. This waves it
off as nothing more than despicable mudslinging. He says some vested
interested want to get him out of the way because he has come in the
way of these corporate groups who have so far been operating as a
Cartel in a manner contrary to the spirit of free and open
competition. Naturally hurt, these powerful groups are trying all
possible means to defame and demean him.
With his wife having resigned from the Companies now and with the
DMK boss firmly besides him, Raja is as safely placed as any one can
be. With no worries lying in his head, he can look wholeheartedly
towards the next General Elections to come back elected and get some
powerful ministry. With it, the Equaas and the Green house would
reach further heights.
Let the poor and helpless people of this country go on crying hoarse
at the top of their voice regarding the blatant loot of the public
coffers. Who is listening to them anyway? Nutan Thakur,
Editor,
Nutan Satta Pravah,
Lucknow
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