SC hearing on 2G scam adjourned

The Supreme Court today began hearing on the 2G spectrum scam involving former Union Minister A Raja but after hearing it for 20 minutes, it was adjourned to Tuesday.

The petition moved by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation alleged serious irregularities in the selection of telecom companies, causing losses to the exchequer. Counsel Prashant Bhushan read out parts of the report of the director general of the department which conducted investigations into the allegations. This report formed part of the report of the CAG which has come out in the media but not placed yet before Parliament.

Counsel cited the director general’s report and alleged several violations of the norms for selecting the companies. The former minister gave unfair advantage to certain companies, “cherry-picking” them and flouting the Department of Telecommunication’s own rules. He changed the rules of the game to benefit certain parties like the Reliance, he said.

Many of the 122 winners of the licence did not fulfil the eligibility conditions. Some of them did not have the paid-up capital prescribed for getting the licence. Though only one licence was given to one firm, some got two. Thus, the limited spectrum available was given to ineligible candidates purposely.