2G scam: NDA reverses UPA stance, backs CBI

The NDA government at the centre has decided to give active support to the CBI's investigation into the 2G scam that surfaced during the previous UPA-ll regime and has directed the department of telecom (DoT) to file affidavit in support of the CBI's position.

Communications and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has, in fact, overruled suggestions made by top officials in the DoT to adopt a hands-off approach in the matter, and has instead directed the department to file an ''effective'' affidavit that supports the CBI's position in the case before the Supreme Court.

DoT officials who had so far followed a non-supportive role in the investigations, now wanted to remain aloof in matters relating to the 2G scam, including the CBI petition to cancel the bail of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa.

Telecom minister Prasad is understood to have asked ministry officials to fully cooperate with and assist the CBI on all matters related to the 2G scam.

Prasad has also instructed them to engage top lawyers to represent the government in legal wrangles.

It may be noted that the Supreme Court had, in the past, pulled up the DoT for its ''casual'' and ''unacceptable'' position, which has been inimical to the CBI's investigations into the matter.

During the course of investigations, the DoT was defiant at first and tried to defend the ''zero loss'' theory in the allocation of spectrum.

In 2011, the CBI arrested former communications minister A Raja and two officials of his ministry for their role in the grant of licences and allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008, in violation of established guidelines and procedures.

The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India had, in its report, estimated a presumptive loss ranging from Rs57,000 crore to Rs1,76,000 crore to the exchequer due to the allocation.

The CBI's first information report, on the other hand, estimated the loss to the exchequer to be around Rs22,000 crore.

This estimate was based on the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission, which had referred the case to the CBI.

Raja, who became telecom minister in the UPA-l ministry in May 2007, was re-allotted the ministry in the UPA-II government, after the 2009 general elections.