2G scam: SC queries CBI, ED for going soft on telcos

The Supreme Court today sought response from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over a charge that they were going soft on companies like Essar, Loop and their promoters by not slapping corruption charges against them in the case arising out of the 2G spectrum scam.

A Bench of Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly issued notice to them to also respond on the probe done against the former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran after it was alleged that CBI was not doing anything after registering FIR.

The court passed the order on an application filed by an NGO alleging that CBI's decision not to book Essar Group and its promoters under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been "facilitated" by the intervention of CBI Director and Law Minister Salman Khurshid.

The Bench, after holding a brief hearing in the case, asked the agencies to file their response in 10 days on all these allegation and posted the matter for further hearing on January 20.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, contended that CBI's decision not to slap charges under PCA was in contradiction of the investigation officers' report which had found "strong evidence in the case and had apparently/reportedly proposed charges even under the Act."

"Therefore, not charging the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act ignoring the findings of the Investigating Officers, is unwarranted. This is unacceptable, especially, in a case where the investigations are being monitored by this Court and investigating officers are reporting to the Court," he told the court.

Bhushan alleged that the present Law Minister was trying to "influence" the probe against Essar group.

"The interference of an influential minister in the government, Law Minister Salman Khurshid, is evident. He is publicly giving clean chit to Essar/Loop," Bhushan said.

"It is to be noted that this case is similar to that of Swan-Reliance wherein CBI has already filed charge sheets against officials of Swan, Reliance and also the public officials. The charge sheets include charges under Prevention of Corruption Act. The above developments are likely to weaken the prosecution case in the matter of Swan-Reliance as well," the NGO said.

The agency had on December 12 filed the third charge sheet against Essar Group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia, Essar Group director (Strategy and Planning) Vikas Saraf, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan and her husband IP Khaitan.

The agency also named three companies-- Loop Telecom, Loop Mobile India and Essar Tele Holding as accused in the case.

All of them have been charge sheeted under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC. Essar Group in a statement had denied the allegations against them.

The NGO also demanded that the agency should probe the role another company Shyam Telelink, which had got licences, during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja, and in which Russian billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov has invested money.