This Article is From Apr 02, 2011

2G scam: CBI chargesheet against A Raja today

2G scam: CBI chargesheet against A Raja today
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will file its first and main chargesheet in the 2G spectrum scam today against four individuals including Raja, some telecom honchos and two companies for their involvement in the 2G scam.

Earlier, the CBI informed the Supreme Court that telecom companies - Swan Telecom and Loop Telecom - were used as front companies by established telecom players to get 2G spectrum illegally during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja.

The agency, which filed a status report in a sealed envelope before a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly, said Raja will face charges of "cheating, forgery, and corruption".

It said Swan Telecom and Loop Telecom were allegedly used as front companies by the Reliance Group (ADAG) and Essar respectively. Essar already has stakes in Vodafone.

Swam Telecom's promoter Shahid Usman Balwa has been arrested by the CBI and ADAG firm RCom's chairman Anil Ambani has also appeared before the agency in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

The CBI submitted before the court that Swan and Loop hid the details about their companies to get spectrum and they will be facing charges of "cheating" and "criminal conspiracy".

The agency said that there was evidence of "forgery" in altering of first-come-first-serve policy to allow some companies to get 2G spectrum during Raja's tenure as telecom minister.

CBI stated that corporate lobbyist Niira Radia's taped phone conversations will be used as evidence in the case. Ms Radia, who represents clients like Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata, allegedly worked her government contacts, including Mr Raja, to win privileges for her clients.

She's also heard lobbying for Mr Raja to be made Telecom Minister after the UPA coalition won the general election in May 2009.

In 2008, it is alleged that Raja bent government rules to award spectrum at throwaway prices to companies who were largely ineligible. Mr Raja was arrested in February.

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