CBI chargesheet on 2G scam left out 'core issues': BJP

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 4 (ANI): Charging the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of bending backwards to defend the Prime Minister, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley said the agency's chargesheet in connection with the 2G spectrum case has left out 'core issues' and not significantly dealt with the loss to the exchequer.

Jaitley, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also alleged that the timetable of the CBI probe into the 2G spectrum scam was influenced by the Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

"The chargesheet has left out the core issues. The issue of loss to the exchequer on account of allotting spectrum at 2001 price in 2008 has not been significantly dealt with," said Jaitley.

I think CBI has bent backwards a little bit. They repeatedly said the Prime Minister was defied or misled. I don't think the charge sheet should give a political clean chit to anybody. It should deal with criminality," he added.

Jaitley, who was here to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates, said the CBI had acted under legal compulsions, as it was mandatory to file the chargesheet within 60 days after starting the investigation.

Claiming that 'huge evidences' about large sums of money being transferred to the DMK channel (Kalaignar TV) had surfaced during the investigation, Jaitley said there was no reason to postpone such vital issues.

The CBI has challenged the government's defence against the charge that it gave away 2G spectrum cheap with the agency strongly supporting auction of airwaves and underlining the finance ministry's recommendation to revise license fees.

The CBI has alleged that former telecom minister A Raja misled the Prime Minister and suppressed facts from him on the spectrum allocation issue.

A total of 2,773 candidates will contest for seats in 234 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies.

The polling for 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 13. (ANI)