2G scam: Panel MPs slam ED for 'slow pace' of probe

Members of a parliamentary panel today slammed the Enforcement Directorate for its "slow pace" of investigation into the 2G scam and sought more details on the money trail it was probing.

Top ED officials, along with Finance Secretary R S Gujral, today appeared before the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the 2G spectrum allocation scam to brief about the progress made in the case.

Several members criticised the agency for the "slow pace" of investigation and sought more details on the money trail it was investigating in India and abroad, sources said.

Members including Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) wanted to know whether all the cases being probed by the agency came under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Agency officials are learnt to have said that while most cases pertained to FEMA, it was investigating certain issues under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) also.

The agency said so far it has not been able to establish the total amount involved in FEMA and PMLA cases.

Members like T Siva (DMK) and Manish Tewari (Cong) wanted to know whether ED has been able to establish "illegal gratification" allegedly paid to the Karunanidhi family-owned Kalaignar TV.

Agency representative are learnt to have maintained that they have not been establish the fact independently and they went by the CBI charge sheet on the issue.

The CBI is reported to have described the Rs 200-crore inflow into Kalaignar TV as "illegal gratification" or bribe in exchange for the spectrum allocation allegedly made by former Telecom Minister A Ra