CBI says Raja threatened officials to favour Swan

According to the CBI former 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.

A P Singh, director of the investigative agency told the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that two officers who refused to fall in line and give preference to Swan Telcom over Tata Tele-services Limited, 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 allocation of spectrum to Swan in Delhi circle, which was approved by Behura and Raja.

Singh told the JPC that TTSL had been granted in principle approval for use of dual technology in 20 circles along with letters of intent given to new licensees on 10 January 2008. Complying with the conditions, the company then applied to Wireless Planning and Coordination for spectrum.

The applications that were filed by TTSL went missing from the DOT and the company was asked to file fresh applications on 5 March, 2008 whereas the licences were signed for new applicants Swan and Unitech, Singh told the JPC.

Describing the relationship between Reliance Telecom and Swan Telecom he said the Anil Ambani-headed company was structured in a manner that the association between them would remain under wraps.

According to the CBI it found no evidence of wrongdoing by Tata Teleservices.
 
In fact, it has noted that the company unfairly lost out to Swan Telecom in the lucrative Delhi circle.

The agency is expected to complete its probe into the 2G scam allegedly masterminded by A Raja in which telcom spectrum was given away at throwaway prices to select companies.