2G: Maran wanted inquiry into licence granted to Dishnet

Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran had wanted an inquiry into the allocation of 2G spectum licences to Dishnet Wireless Ltd, a group subsidiary of Aircel, during the tenure of his predecessor Arun Shourie, ex-Trai chief Nripendra Mishra today told a Delhi court.

"Dishnet was granted Letter of Intent in April, 2004, when Arun Shourie was the Minister of Communication and Information Technology and was granted licence on April 21, 2004," Mishra said.

"As per my recollection, the Minister Dayanidhi Maran had conveyed though his private secretary that there are issues which need to be inquired into and he had desired that the Additional Secretary should inquire and report," he added.

Mishra made the remarks during his cross examination by the counsel for Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa.

Mishra said he had discussed the issues "perhaps" with Maran in December 2004.

He also told the court that representatives of Dishnet had met him as the Sectretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), "to point out that he has not been given spectrum yet".

Mishra told the court that Dishnet was alloted spectrum in Bihar and Himachal Pradesh circles on February 7, 2006, and March 13, 2006 respectively.