Essar group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia were among the five corporate honchos who were Monday made accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its third charge sheet filed in a Delhi court arising out of investigations in the 2G scam.

The other three named in the chargesheet are Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband I P Khaitan and Essar Group director (Strategy and Planning) Vikas Saraf.

Interestingly, the five have been charged with cheating the Department of Telecom (DoT) by using Loop Telecom as a "front" to secure 2G licenses in 2008.

They were slapped with offences only under the Indian Penal Code as the CBI did not find enough evidence to prosecute them under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The fresh charge sheet, filed before Special CBI Judge O P Saini, added eight new accused, including Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding, in the list of existing 17 accused in the case.

The court has now fixed December 17 for taking cognizance of the 105-page-long charge sheet for prosecution on offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

"The matter requires further consideration. Put up on December 17 for the consideration of the charge sheet," the court said.

Essar Group, in a statement, denied any involvement in the 2G spectrum allocation scam and said it has complied with in totality with all conditions of telecom licences.

It claimed that the CBI has confirmed that Essar was not not involved in the 2G scam.