Did not favour Unitech, Swan: Raja tells court

Former telecom minister A. Raja Wednesday denied in a court here that he granted 2G spectrum licences to the Unitech group of companies and Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd. (STPL) despite knowing they were "ineligible" to get the radio waves.

Testifying as a defence witness in the case, Raja told Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge O.P. Saini that he did not abuse his official position to favour Unitech and STPL.

"It is wrong to suggest that I issued LoIs (letters of intent), granted UAS (unified access service) licences and allocated spectrum to STPL and Unitech, despite knowing them to be ineligible," Raja told the court.

According to the CBI, Raja was biased while distributing 2G mobile air waves and operating licences to telecom firms, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

All the accused, including Raja, are out on bail.