2G scam: Pawar denies reports alleging links to DB Realty

New Delhi, Apr 14 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Thursday rubbished media reports, which had quoted corporate lobbyist Niira Radia as telling the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that he may be controlling Balwa's real estate company DB Realty, and may have pursued the issue of spectrum and license for Swan Telecom, one of the beneficiaries of the 2G spectrum scam.

"This is absolutely a lie and foolish statement. I have no financial interest in this company. DB Realty and that telecom company I have no relations at all," said Pawar.

Pawar further said he knew DB Realty's Vinod Goenka's father for the last 35 years and he had set up a milk-processing unit in Baramati about 20 years back.

"We, all farmers, are helping him in getting good quality milk. We have a relationship. There are no two opinions about that but we have no involvement or association with the telecom company," said Pawar.

"I am looking after agriculture of the country, not telecom," he added, asserting that Radia had herself stated that she had no proof of the charges against him.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress Party reacting to the issue said that Pawar has himself made an 'elaborate' clarification.

"Since the person concerned has given an elaborate reaction in the matter, it would not be proper for anyone to say anything. It is not necessary to say anything," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

There was chaos in the Maharashtra Assembly earlier this month after the opposition accused Pawar of having links with DB Reality and Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, who is presently lodged in Tihar Jail for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam.

Shahid Balwa was arrested in February 8, for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam.

Swan Telecom is believed to be one of the beneficiaries in the spectrum allotted during former Telecom Minister A Raja's tenure, who was arrested prior to Balwa and is locked in the same jail.

The others arrested in connection with the case are Raja"s personal secretary RK Chandolia and former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behuria.

Raja was forced to resign from the Union Cabinet last year after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) faulted him for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue. (ANI)