New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS): The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the role of then finance minister P. Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum case.

It said in a statement that the note submitted by the finance ministry to the Prime Minister's Office in March 2011 "has shown authoritatively that Chidambaram had cleared the allotment of licenses for 2G spectrum at the 2001 entry fee even though the finance secretary and his own ministry had pointed out the need for revision of the fee".

"The finance ministry note makes the pertinent observation that if the finance ministry had stuck to its earlier stand, the licenses given could have been cancelled."

The CPI-M added that evidence had come to light that then and now jailed Telecom Minister A. Raja and Chidambaram met in January 2008 when, according to the finance secretary, "the finance minister had stated that they are not going to re-visit the issue of entry fee or revenue sharing".

"The CPI-M, in the light of all this mounting evidence, demands a CBI investigation into the role of Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum case," it said.