New Delhi: Former Telecom Minister A Raja deliberately gave dual technology benefits to Reliance ADA Group telecom firm and denied it to Tata Group companies by delaying "in-principle approval" for the Unified Access Services (UAS) licenses, a Delhi court on Saturday said.
Special CBI Judge OP Saini said Raja had, in conspiracy with other DoT officials, deliberately delayed the sanction for the Tata Group companies, Tata Teleservices and TTML, after giving green signal to Reliance ADA group.
The court said the then minister by referring to the Law Ministry the issue of according dual technology benefits to Tata created an opportunity which made even ineligible firms, Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless, senior in the priority list for grant of licenses.
"You (Raja) accorded in-principle approval for the dual technology spectrum to the Reliance Communications Ltd, HFCL Infotel and Shyam Telelinks Ltd and when this request of Tata Teleservices Ltd and TTML was put up for in-principle approval to use GSM technology under UAS licence, you (Raja) dishonestly clubbed this issue also with the letter being sent to Ministry of Law and Justice for guidance," it said.
The court said Raja deliberately did not accord approval to telecom companies of Tata group till January 10, 2008, when LOIs for new licences were distributed to other ineligible firms.
It said the deliberate design of Raja led to a situation where Swan Telecom became eligible for lucrative Delhi circle where only one slot for new player was available.
"Unitech Wireless would not have got any license at all and Swan Telecom would not have got UAS license for Delhi service area," the CBI Judge said while framing charges against 17 accused including Raja in the case.
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