CBI questions Anshuman Ruia in 2G scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today questioned Essar group's Promoter-Director Anshuman Ruia in connection with the company's alleged association with Loop Telecom, beneficiary of 2G Telcom licences.

It is also likely to seek Law Ministry's opinion on Corporate Affairs Ministry's report on the issue.

The CBI is understood to have sought from Anshuman, brother of Chief Executive Officer Prashant Ruia, answers regarding some documents received from Mauritius in response to its Letters Rogatory, agency sources said.

The Essar group has in the past denied the allegations of Loop being its associate and a front for getting licences.

Meanwhile, CBI is likely to seek opinion of the Law Ministry on a recent report by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs which said that Loop was not an associate of Essar group at the time of grant of 2G licences to it, they said.

The agency, in a recent hearing before the court, has also questioned the contradiction in the shareholding details in the two reports given by MCA. The MCA has so far given two reports -- in 2009 and 2011 -- on cross holding of shares of Essar in Loop Telecom.

In a report of 2009, the MCA had said that Essar has 9.9% stake, while in its recent communication it said Essar's stake was just 2.15%. According to licence norms, cross-holding of less than 10% is permisible.

The CBI, in its status report filed in the Supreme Court, had questioned MCA's two different versions. The CBI is investigating whether Essar used Loop as a front company to corner spectrum in violation of the guidelines.