No response to CBI letter rogatory

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had not received a response to the letter rogatory it sent to Switzerland in connection with the Reliance Telecom-Swan probe in the 2G telecom spectrum allocation case, a senior official said.

While a formal response to such an inquiry may take longer, in most cases, authorities establish informal contact with the investigative body. A CBI official told Business Standard in the Reliance Telecom-Swan probe, this wasn’t the case.

The investigative agency had alleged Swan Telecom was a front company of Reliance Telecom, which had sold its stake in Swan Telecom to Mauritius-based Delphi Investments after Swan procured the licence for GSM spectrum in 2008. Delphi then offloaded the stake to Mavi Investment Fund, held by Switzerland-based BTS Belvoir Investments. In its letter rogatory, CBI had asked Swiss authorities to investigate the beneficiary of the stake transfer.

CBI has alleged Swan Tele-com was ineligible for the 2G spectrum licence, adding it was given preferential treatment while awarding the licence.

CBI had also sent letters rogatory to Mauritius to investigative the share transfer to Delphi Investment from Swan Telecom.

Dayanidhi Maran quizzed
Earlier this month, CBI had questioned former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran in connection with allegations he had received Rs 547 crore as kickbacks from a Malaysian company in the controversial Aircel-Maxis deal, CBI sources said. Earlier, former Aircel chief C Sivasankaran had alleged Maran, then telecom minister, had favoured the Maxis group in its takeover of his company and in return, investments were made by the company through Astro network in Sun TV, owned by the Maran family.

Essar, Loop promoters
Trial against the promoters of Essar group and Loop Telecom, accused in a case relating to the 2G telecom spectrum allocation scam, today commenced in a Delhi court. Special judge O P Saini recorded the statements of two CBI witnesses in the case in which Essar group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters I P Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan and Essar group Director (strategy and planning) Vikash Saraf have been named as accused. Three telecom firms —Loop Telecom, Loop Mobile India and Essar Teleholdings — have also been accused in the case.

Order on COAI plea reserved
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal on Thurday said it would decide on the maintainability of a petition filed by the Cellular Operators Association of India, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, seeking cancellation of the GSM licences and spectrum of Tata group companies Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices Maharashtra allotted in 2008.