REUTERS, Nov 25 (bdnews24.com/Reuters)--- India has been rocked by a series of corruption scandals that have embarrassed the ruling Congress party, rattled markets and deferred reform bills as opposition stalls parliament.
Here are details on the four major scandals in banking, telecoms, housing and sports:
LOAN BRIBERY CASE
Top officials of Indian banks, lenders and financial firms have been accused of taking bribes to grant corporate loans. While the size of the scandal is not known, it would have to be considerably larger than the alleged bribes paid.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested on Wednesday eight people, including the chief executive of LIC Housing Finance and senior officials at state-run Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of India.
The bribes were allegedly paid by private finance firm Money Matters Financial Services, which acted as a "mediator and facilitator" for the loan beneficiaries, the CBI said.
Three Money Matters executives, including the managing director, have been arrested for offering bribes.
Government investigators did not say who the beneficiaries were. Local media said Money Matters' clients included Suzlon Energy, developers DB Realty and Lavasa, a unit of Hindustan Construction.
Companies whose officials have been arrested as well as those named in the local media have all denied any wrongdoing.
Government officials, including ministers, have said this is a case of individual wrongdoing and not a widespread scam.
TELECOMS LICENCE ROW
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the official watchdog, said in a report this month that the telecoms ministry gave lucrative licences and spectrum at below-market prices, depriving the government of up to $39 billion in revenues.
The auditor also said several rules were flouted when the licences were given out in 2007/08, which led to many ineligible firms getting licences.
While nobody has been charged yet, investigations have focused on the telecoms ministry, firms and lobbyists.
Telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja was ordered by the government to resign after the report was released.
Raja has denied any wrongdoing. The CBI has also launched an investigation into alleged corruption at the ministry.
The CAG report says units of realtor Unitech were given licences despite not having adequate capital. The units are now part of the India operations of Norway's Telenor.
Swan Telecom, which has since been bought into by UAE's Etisalat, was given a licence despite being disqualified as No 2 telecoms firm Reliance Communications owned more than 10 percent in it, the auditor said.
Reliance Communications was also given undue benefits as it sought permission to offer services under the more popular GSM technology, the auditor said.
All firms have denied wrongdoing and have said they complied with all rules when licences were given.
Authorities have questioned Niira Radia, a top lobbyist who represents companies like Tata and Reliance Industries, as part of an investigation into whether money laundering and forex laws were broken when the licences were purchased.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been criticised for sitting on a request to grant permission to charge Raja with corruption and been forced to answer questions from the Supreme Court.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The sporting extravaganza in October, which cost up to $6 billion, was dogged by several cases of alleged corruption, including the purchase of equipment and issuing contracts. The anti-corruption watchdog has identified more than 16 projects with possible irregularities.
The ruling Congress party sacked Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the organising committee, as secretary of the Congress party's parliamentary wing. Three of his close aides have been arrested and local media has said Kalmadi could be arrested once he returns from a foreign trip.
The allegations include manipulations of tenders in the building of stadia and other games infrastructure, and inflating bills for equipment such as treadmills and toilet paper rolls.
Several bodies, including the anti-corruption watchdog, the state auditor, the CBI and a special committee set up by Prime Minister Singh, are probing the allegations.
HOUSING SCAM
Congress party politicians, bureaucrats and military officials have been accused of taking over land meant to build apartments for war widows. After the story broke in local media the government sacked the powerful chief minister of Maharashtra, who is a member of Congress.
The Arabian Sea-facing block with 103 apartments in an upscale Mumbai district, that is amongst the world's most expensive pieces of real estate, is also being investigated for several violation of norms, including environmental laws and land-use rules.
Apartments were sold for as little as $130,000 each, while local media estimated their value at $1.8 million each.
Since the scandal broke out, the government has effectively taken back permissions allowing owners to occupy the apartments, leading to the disconnection of water and power supply.
The CBI had begun investigating the case.
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