Ex-Telecom sec played key role in allotting spectrum to Swan: CBI

CBI has opposed the bail plea of former Telecom Secretary Sidhartha Behura in a city court saying he played a vital role in allocating 2G spectrum in an "arbitrary and unfair manner" to Swan Telecom in Delhi circle.

"Sidhartha Behura in furtherance to the criminal conspiracy has also played a vital role in allocating the spectrum in an arbitrary and unfair manner to Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, especially in Delhi Telecom circle where availability of spectrum was not adequate to cater to the requirements of all applicants," CBI told Special CBI Judge OP Saini.

The agency said Behura "deprived Tata Tele Services Ltd [TTSL] from its legitimate claim to get the spectrum first as per policy approved by former Telecom Minister A Raja on October 18, 2007."

While opposing the bail plea, CBI said Behura in conspiracy with co-accused RK Chandolia, Raja's former personal secretary, made arrangements for distribution of Letters of Intent (LoI) and Department of Telecommunication's [DoT] responses in an "arbitrary and unjust manner".

"LoIs were neither distributed simultaneously nor on first-come-first-served basis. But, LoIs were distributed in a manner designed to unjustifiably benefit Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd and Unitech Ltd as well," CBI said.

Behura, who was arrested on February 2, is lodged in Tihar Jail along with other 12 accused persons including Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and Swan Telecom promotor Shahid Usman Balwa.