2G case: India sends reminder to Mauritius for help

India has sent a reminder to Mauritius for its cooperation in the 2G spectrum scam probe citing information about some companies and its directors under the Mutual legal Assistance Treaty.

After sending the Letters Rogatory, the CBI has despatched a reminder requesting the Mauritius government to give details about certain transactions of 12 companies, including Etisalat Mauritius, Delphi Investment and Decan Asian Infrastructure.

According to the legal documents, investigations have revealed that the entire equity in the form of 107,91,000 shares held by Reliance Telecom were transferred by it to Delphi Investment, Les Cascades building, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis, Mauritius on December 12, 2007.

"That during investigations allegations have surfaced that one corporate group which had a substantial share in another telecommunications operator in India in many circles, was also holding controlling stake/exercising control over Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB Telecom), another telecom operator in India, through Mauritius-based companies, in violation of the Unified Access Services licence guidelines."

This, according to the CBI officials, was to ascertain whether Anil Ambani-led ADAG had more than 10% cross holding shares in Swan Telecom.

The CBI has already questioned Ambani and other officials of ADAG in this connection and conveyed its contentions to a court.

Rejecting the bail pleas of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa and R K Chandolia, former personal secretary of former telecom minister A Raja, special CBI Judge OP Saini had said: "Reliance Telecom of ADAG had already been granted licence in some circles and, as such, Swan Telecom, its associate company, was not eligible for licence."

The court had said Swam Telecom should not have applied for licences in the first place as it was incorporated by the Reliance group of companies and thus was ineligible.

ADAG has, however, denied the allegations of the CBI.

On the involvement of Raja, the Letters Rogatory said, "Allegations have also surfaced that some public servants of the Government of India have stakes in Etisalant DB Telecom (formerly Swan Telecom) and Loop Telecom through a Mauritius based companies."

The LR has sought collection of documents from the Office and Registrar of Companies, documents and information to be collected from banks besides examining person in the concerned firms and Registrar of companies, the representatives of these companies in Mauritius.

"It is further requested that the competent authority in Republic of Mauritius may be asked that statement of witness be authenticated as per the law and procedures."