2G: CBI to check for criminality
The CBI on Tuesday registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) aga-inst unknown persons to look into possible criminal aspects, if any, to the allotment of spectrum licences since 2001.
According to sources, the PE has been registered to ascertain whether or not the provision of “first-come-first-serve” for granting spectrum licences was followed by the predecessors of former telecom minister A. Raja. Sources said documents of companies awarded contracts would also be examined. The Supreme Court had on December 16, 2010 directed the agency to widen its probe to cover the grant of licences by both the NDA and UPA governments between 2001 and 2007 and submit a report by February 10 this year.
“Another PE against DoT officials will be registered by the Bank Security and Frauds Cell (BS&FC) of the CBI. The cell would investigate DoT officials who signed on the loan applications of telecom companies to secure loans from public sector banks,” sources said, adding, “There are reports that public sector banks provided over `26,000 cr-ore in loans to five telecom companies involved in the 2G spectrum scam. The loan applications of these companies were signed by some DoT officials.”
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