Media shares 2011 story of A Raja named 'mastermind' in 2G scam as recent

Hyderabad: On 5 October, several media outlets published a story claiming that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in its first charge sheet on the 2G scam, accused former Union minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader A. Raja of being the "mastermind" of the scandal.

The story was first published by the news agency IANS and was picked up by the Business Standard (Archive), Zee News, and DNA.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that IANS has withdrawn the story. It tweeted, "The story '2G Scam: CBI files first chargesheet, names Raja as 'mastermind' was erroneously released and is hereby withdrawn. The inconvenience is regretted."

Zee News and DNA have also withdrawn the story.

We also found a report by India Today published in 2011 stating that A. Raja was among 12 persons and companies charge-sheeted by the CBI in the 2G scam.

However, in December 2017, all accused, including former telecom minister A. Raja and DMK Lok Sabha member Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, were acquitted by a Delhi court from the charges of corruption and money laundering in the 2G spectrum allocation cases.

In its judgement, special judge O.P. Saini said, "I have no hesitation in holding that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. So, all are acquitted."

Hence, the story run by the media outlets is false.