Probe into Trai, DoT inaction
Dec. 16: The extended investigation ordered by the Supreme Court will also probe as to why Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and DoT did not take action against those licensees who sold their “stakes/equities” for many thousand crores of rupees and also against those who failed to fulfil roll out obligations and comply with other conditions of the licence.
Stating that the CBI should go into all aspects of the case “without being influenced by any functionary, agency or instrumentality of the state, and irrespective of the position,” the apex court said the other two probe agencies — ED and the I-T department — “shall continue their investigation without any hindrance or interference by anyone”.
In the interest of speedy and fair investigation, the CBI and ED were directed to share information with each other on any point of the probe.
Taking note of media reports on grant of “huge loans” by public sector and other banks to some of the companies which succeeded in obtaining 2G licences in January 2008, the CBI was asked to “find out whether the officers of the DoT were signatories to the loan agreement executed by the private companies, and, if so, why and with whose permission they did so.” The CBI and ED were given two months to file a status report on the progress of the probe “in a sealed cover” to enable the court to make an assessment in the process of monitoring the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Union law minister, Mr M. Veerappa Moily, welcomed the order and said the government had nothing to hide on the 2G spectrum allocation.
Post new comment