CBI registers PE to probe telecom policy since 2001

Acting on a Supreme Court direction, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) to look into possible criminal aspects in the telecom policy since 2001.

The PE was registered against ‘unknown persons’, with an aim to ascertain as to whether the ‘first-come-first-serve basis’ provision passed by the then Cabinet led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was followed or not, official sources said here.

The CBI was likely to go into the minutes of the meetings held by successive telecom ministers which include the late Pramod Mahajan, Arun Shourie and Dayanidhi Maran.

According to sources, nearly 50 licences were given out on a first-come-first-serve basis and Bharti, Vodafone and Idea were among the beneficiaries of the policy. They said that documents of the companies awarded the contract would also be examined.

Swamy moves SC
Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy today moved the Supreme Court, seeking cancellation of 2G spectrum licences allotted during the tenure of former telecom minister A Raja. The suit sought directions to the government for holding a fresh auction for eligible entities for all the 122 licences in 22 circles across the country