2G: Prosecute firms, not officials, said ex-CBI chief

Just seven days before his retirement this week, A P Singh, then director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sent a note to the Attorney General of India (AG) against prosecuting officials of companies that had benefited from earlier allotment of telecom spectrum.

Singh wanted the companies in question (Bharti and Vodafone) prosecuted but not their officials, saying there wasn’t enough evidence of wrongdoing, in terms of illegally influencing the allocation. The agency’s director of prosecution had felt there wasn’t enough evidence against either officials or companies.

Based on the note, dated November 23, the AG has decided not to comment on the views regarding the officials, as the director of prosecution feels the same way. The matter was referred by the Supreme Court to the AG on the difference of opinion between the two offices.