A. Raja gained national attention during his tenure as the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology in the government led by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) from 2007 to 2009. He was a Member of Parliament from the Nilgiris constituency in Tamil Nadu.
Raja's term as the Telecom Minister became controversial due to his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam, one of the largest financial scandals in India. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) estimated a presumptive loss of revenue to the government due to the underpricing of 2G spectrum licenses. This controversy led to Raja's resignation from the cabinet in 2010.
Subsequently, he faced legal proceedings, and in December 2017, the special court acquitted him and several others in the 2G spectrum case, citing lack of evidence. The verdict was a significant development in Indian politics, and it had an impact on the political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
