Raja threatened staff to favour Swan, Unitech: CBI

New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) Former Indian telecom minister
A Raja and his staff threatened and coerced officials in
giving preference to Swan Telecom and Unitech over Tata group
in the award of telecom licences, Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), India's premier investigation agency has
informed the Joint Parliamentary Committee probing the 2G
scam.
Director CBI A P Singh who gave a detailed
presentation on various aspects of spectrum allocation scam on
June 7 told the panel that two officers who did not put the
file, giving preference to Swan Telecom over Tata
Tele-services Limited (TTSL), were transferred by Secretary
(Telecom) Siddarth Behura "in league with" Raja's private
secretary R K Chandolia.
He told the JPC that the then Wireless Advisor R P
Aggarwal was given "credible threat of consequences" and was
forced to put up a note for allocating spectrum to Swan in
Delhi circle, which was approved by Behura and Raja.
Giving details of the conspiracy at the Sanchar Bhavan
(Department of Telecom (DoT), Indian Ministry of
Communication), Singh told the JPC that TTSL got in principle
approval for use of dual technology in 20 circles along with
letters of intent given to new licensees on January 10, 2008.
The company complied with the conditions and applied to
Wireless Planning and Coordination for spectrum.
The applications filed by TTSL went missing from the
DoT and the company was asked to file fresh applications on
March 5, 2008 whereas the licences were signed for new
applicants Swan and Unitech, the Director told the JPC.
He also described the relationship between Reliance
Telecom and Swan Telecom saying the Anil Ambani-headed company
structured in a manner that their association would remain
under wraps.
Reliance Infocomm spokesperson refused to comment on
the issue.