A Raja denies giving 2G licences to ineligible STPL, Unitech

Former Telecom Minister A Raja today denied in a Delhi court the suggestion of CBI that he had granted 2G spectrum licences to Unitech group of companies and Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) despite knowing that they were "ineligible" to get the radio waves.
"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 group of companies, despite knowing them to be ineligible," Raja told Special CBI Judge O P Saini while being cross-examined by CBI prosecutor.
Raja, deposing as a witness to defend himself in the ongoing 2G spectrum allocation case trial, also denied the suggestions of CBI prosecutor that he had abused his official position to favour Unitech group of companies and STPL.

"It is wrong to suggest that I was in criminal conspiracy with any of the co-accused. It is wrong to suggest that I and other accused, in pursuance to a criminal conspiracy, acted in a designed manner.
"It is wrong to suggest that I abused my official position as MOC&IT. It is wrong to suggest that I created condition in which STPL and Unitech group of companies may get priority in getting UASL and spectrum vis-a-vis those who were ahead in queue to them," he said.
Besides Raja, promoters of STPL-- Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and others are facing trial in the case. Unitech Wireless(Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd and STPL are also accused in the case.

During the recording of statement, Raja also denied CBI's suggestion that he had taken decisions in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in an arbitrary and non-transparent manner.
"It is wrong to suggest that I damaged the reputation of DoT due to my actions. It is wrong to suggest that allegations /charges against me are correct," Raja, whose recording of statement remained inconclusive, said.