Minister resigns over licence losses

An Indian minister Andimuthu Raja has resigned, amid allegations that his handling of the 2008 sale of licences for mobile phone airwaves resulted in massive losses for the government.

Mr Raja came under heavy pressure after a government inquiry reportedly alleged that the sale of 2G wireless spectrum resulted in a £24bn loss to the treasury. Critics charge that Mr Raja's allocation was improperly based on 2001 prices and unfairly awarded licences on a "first come, first served" basis, rather than by auction. He is the third senior official to step down.