2G scam: CBI lists ineligible companies

Will send letters rogatory to Cyprus, Norway to track funding of telcos

PTI | March 4, 2011



Zeroing on the criminal conspiracy relating to 2G scam among corporates, CBI is preparing a list of all ineligible telecom companies which had got the licences in 2008.

Besides, CBI is conducting a "microscopic examination" of a deal between Tata Group's real estate and infrastructure development arm Tata Realty and Infrastructure and Unitech whereby the latter had received a loan, which the agency claims, have been diverted, official sources said.

Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia is likely to be summoned again to the CBI in connection with the case for allegedly playing an important role in the deal, they said.

CBI has roped in the enforcement directorate officials to help it in locating the money trail and violations of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and stake holding-patterns in some of the firms which acted as front for other telecom companies.

Sources said the CBI has decided to send Letters Rogatory (LRs) to two countries -- Cyprus and Norway -- to find out source of funding of telecom firms who were awarded spectrum.

A Letters Rogatory is a formal request issued by a competent court to a foreign court and processed by the ministry of external affairs on behalf of the investigative agencies to obtain information about individuals and entities.

"A list of ineligible firms is being drafted and its findings on criminal conspiracy/culpability will be finalised within two weeks' time," a CBI official said.

CBI, which is directed to file chargesheet by March 31 by Supreme Court, is likely to question DMK MP K Kanimozhi, who is the daughter of Tamil Nadu chief minister K Karunanidhi, in connection with the scam, they said.

Sources said CBI sleuths have found irregularities in funding Rs 214 crore to Kalaignar TV, a regional channel operational mainly in Tamil Nadu in which Karunanidhi family members allegedly have majority stakes, by DB Realty.

Earlier, the CBI had questioned R Krishna Kumar and Sanjay B Ugale, chairman and managing director, respectively, of Tata Realty and Infrastructure, Anil Sardana, former CEO of Tata Teleservices Ltd.

The CBI had also questioned Sanjay Chandra of Unitech on issues relating to offloading of majority stake to Norway based company Telenor after getting 2G spectrum license.

CBI is probing whether Tata Real Estate had paid Rs 1,600 crore to Unitech for a land deal at a time when the the real estate company was applying for 2G licence in 2007.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had in its report presumed losses to the tune of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in distributing spectrum to certain telecom firms due to certain procedural lapses.

Comments

 

Other News

Consumer Justice at a Crossroads

Over the past four decades, India`s consumer protection landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. What began with the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 as a simple mechanism to empower ordinary citizens has evolved into a comprehensive framework capable of addressing challenges ranging from mislea

Doctors, experts call for ban on junk food ads, mandate warning labels

More than 30 doctors, medical scientists and public health professionals have urged the government to take decisive action against the aggressive advertising and marketing of junk food, calling for a watershed ban on advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) and ultra-processed foods (UPF

Asiatic Lion population rises from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025

On World Lion Day 2026, environment, forest and climate change Minister  Bhupender Yadav celebrated India’s remarkable journey in lion conservation and reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife and biodiversity.   In a post on soc

Railways imposed ₹5.13 crore fine for food quality and hygiene violations

Indian Railways serve about 58 crore meals every year on an average. About only 0.0008% food quality related complaints are received on average. Based on complaints during the last three years, appropriate penal actions have been taken by IRCTC. Such actions include imposition of fines amounting to ₹5.13

STHAVAR: Why every Indian built asset needs a permanent digital identity

India has built digital systems for identity, payments, taxation, documents, logistics and public services. State governments, ministries, infrastructure agencies and urban local bodies have also created portals for land records, building permissions, project monitoring, property taxation and municipal s

Saksham Skill census identifies 22,000 job-ready candidates in one Mumbai ward

A first-of-its-kind AI-enabled skill census conducted in Mumbai`s H-West Ward has identified a potential livelihood pipeline of nearly 22,000 candidates, generated over 32,000 provisional job matches while revealing that 71.2 per cent of surveyed homemakers are willing to join the workforce, according to

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter