2G case: Reliance Telecom moves HC against charges

Reliance Telecom (RTL) today moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of charges in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, saying it never held stakes in excess of 9.9% in Swan Telecom and that too was divested prior to grant of licences in 2008.

"The petitioner has always held less than 10% share holding in Swan and has also been compliant with legal requirements, including the Unified Access Services Licences (UASL) Guidelines.

"For that, it is the admitted position that the petitioner [RTL] had even divested itself of 9.9% shares held by it in Swan on December 5, 2007, much prior to issuance of LoIs on January 2008. Thus, no benefit accrued to it from the grant of UASL to Swan," the petition, of the group firm of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG), said.

The petition has been filed two days after a lower court found prima facie evidence to put RTL on trial under sections 109 (abetment), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC, saying co-accused Shahid Usman Balwa led Swan Telecom was "just a mask" for RTL.