CBI Raids Offices of Telecom Department
The CBI has conducted a raid on offices of the Department of Telecom in the case of alleged irregularities in allocating 2G spectrum to some of the new players.
Reports said that a team of CBI personnel carried out searches at the Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi following a case was registered in the regard last evening.
Media reports said citing sources that all records related to the allocation of spectrum to new players in January 2008 will be taken up for examination to find if there were irregularities in the process.
However, no comments of the DoT official came on the topic.
It may be mentioned that eight new players were allotted licences in 2008 with bundled 4.4 MHz spectrum to launch mobile services.
The telecom ministry came under attack for giving spectrum very cheap compared to its actual market value. And CVC recommended a CBI investigation into the procedures followed for selecting companies for giving 2G spectrum.
Eyebrows were raised when two of the new players – Unitech Wireless Services and Swan Telecom – sold part of their stake at huge premium within days of getting the licences.
The government had given telecom licence along with start up spectrum at Rs 1,651 crore for pan-Indian services.
