what is 2g scam

7/31/2019 What is 2G Scam

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What is 2G Scam ?

The 2G spectrum scam involved officials and ministers in the Government of India

illegally undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses,

which they would use to create 2G subscriptions for cell phones.

According to a report submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General based on money

collected from 3G licenses, the loss to the exchequer was 176,379 crore (US$38.27

billion). The issuing of the 2G licenses occurred in 2008, but the scam came to public

notice when the Indian Income Tax Department investigated political lobbyist Nira Radia

and the Supreme Court of India took Subramanian Swamy's complaints on record.

The 2G spectrum scandal involved officials in the government of India illegally

undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they

would use to create 2G subscriptions for cell phones. The shortfall between the money

collected and the money which the law mandated to be collected is estimated to be

176,645 crore (US$3 5.24 billion) as valued by Comptroller and Auditor General of

India based on 3G and BWA spectrum auction prices which held in 2010. However the

exact loss is disputed, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pegged the loss at

30,984.55 crore (US$6 .18 billion) in its first charge sheet filed on 2 April 2011,

whereas Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in a response to CBI's query said that the

Govt. has actually gained 3,000 crore (US$598.5 million) by selling the spectrum. Kapil

Sibal, minister for communications & IT, said in a press conference that there was no loss

caused by selling 2G licenses.

However in September 2011, CBI argued before the Supreme Court that it was unsafe to

read a "no loss" conclusion in the telecom regulator's calculations on irregular spectrum

allotment as the methodology adopted admittedly did not take into account the market

mechanism. All the speculations of profit, loss and no-loss were put to rest when on 2

February 2012 the Supreme Court of India delivered judgement. The Supreme Court

declared the allotment of spectrum as "unconstitutional and arbitrary" and quashed all the

122 licenses issued during tenure of A. Raja, the main accused in the 2G scam case. The
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court further said that A. Raja "wanted to favour some companies at the cost of the public

exchequer" and "virtually gifted away important national asset".

The issuing of licenses occurred in 2008, but the scam came to public notice when the

Indian Income Tax Department was investigating political lobbyist Nira Radia. Thegovernment's investigation and the government's reactions to the findings in the

investigation were the subject of debate, as were the nature of the Indian media's

reactions. Much of the credit of bringing this whole scam into the public light (by

pursuing it in the court of law) goes to Subramanian Swamy who is the chief petitioner

for this case in the court of law.

In 2011, Time magazine listed the scam at number two on their Top 10 Abuses of

Power list (just behind the Watergate scandal) .

Background

India is divided into 22 telecoms zones and there are a total 281 zonal licences in the

market. According to the telecom policy of India, when a licence is allotted to an operator

some start-up spectrum is bundled along with it. The policy does not have a provision for

auctioning the spectrum. In year 2008, 122 new second generation (2G) Unified Access

Service (UAS) licenses were given to telecom companies at the price of 2001 and on first

come first serve basis. As per the chargesheet filled by Central Bureau of Investigation

(CBI) several rules were violated and bribes were paid to favour certain firms while

awarding 2G spectrum licenses.

The audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) says that several

licenses were issued to firms with no prior experience in the telecom sector or were

ineligible or had suppressed relevant facts. In November 2007 Prime Minister of India Dr

Manmohan Singh had written a letter to telecom minister A. Raja directing him to ensure

allotment of 2G spectrum in a fair and transparent manner and to ensure license fee was

properly revised. Raja wrote back to the Prime Minister rejecting many of his

recommendations. In the same month Ministry of Finance wrote a letter to Department of

Telecommunications (DOT) raising concerns over the procedure adopted by it
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but DOT went ahead with its plan of giving 2G licenses. It preponed the cut-off date to

25 September, from 1 October 2007. Later on the same day, DoT posted an

announcement on its website saying those who apply between 3.30 and 4.30 pm on that

very day would be issued licences in accordance with the said policy. Companies like

Unitech & Swan Telecom got licenses without any prior telecom experience. Swan

Telecom got the license even though it did not meet eligibility criteria. Swan got license

for 1,537 crore (US$306.63 million) and then it sold 45% stake to UAE based

company Etisalat for 4,200 crore (US$837.9 million). Unitech Wireless, a subsidiary of

the Unitech Group, got license for 1,661 crore (US$331.37 million) and later sold 60%

stake for 6,200 crore (US$1.24 billion) to Norway based company Telenor.

Parties accused of involvement

The selling of the licenses brought attention to three groups of entities politicians and

bureaucrats who had the authority to sell licenses, corporations who were buying the

licenses and media professionals who mediated between the politicians and the

corporations.

Politicians accused

Politicians named as accused in the chargesheet filed by CBI in the Special CBI Court

,allegations levelled against them by CBI and charges framed against them by the Special

CBI court.

A. Raja :

Political career - Political party DMK, 4 times MP, present constituency Nilgiris, Tamil

Nadu, former Union Minister of State (Rural Development - 1999), former Union

Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare - 2003), former Union Cabinet Minister

(Environment & Forests - 2004), former Union Cabinet Minister (Communication and

Information Technology - 2007 & 2009)

Allegation - In a joint investigation report prepared by Central Bureau of Investigation

(CBI) and Income Tax Department the agencies allege that A.Raja could have received
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Telecommunicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravida_Munnetra_Kazhagamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_of_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiris_(Lok_Sabha_constituency)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiris_(Lok_Sabha_constituency)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_of_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravida_Munnetra_Kazhagamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Telecommunications


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3,000 crore (US$5 98.5 million) as bribe for bringing forward the cut-off date for

applications for spectrum from the initial 1 October 2007 to 25 September 2007. The

deadline switch eliminated many applications, enabling Raja to favour a few with

spectrum. The agencies also alleged that he used bank accounts under his wife's name in

Mauritius and Seychelles to chanelise the kickbacks he received.

A chargesheet filed by CBI alleges that Raja conspired with the accused, subverted the

first-come first-served (FCFS) policy and waywardly redefined it to ensure that Swan and

Unitech got 2G licences. He didnt auction the 2G spectrum or adopt some other market -

determined methodology to determine its real valuation and instead benchmarked it to a

rate discovered in 2001, when the telecom sector was at a nascent stage.

Charges - Criminal breach of trust by a public servant under section 409, criminal

conspiracy under section 120-B, cheating under section 420 & forgery under sections 468

and 471. Booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act for accepting illegal

gratification.

Status - Taken into custody (arrested) by CBI on 2 February 2011 and lodged in Tihar

Jail since then (as of February 2012) Never applied for bail. As of February 2012, trial is

being conducted in Special CBI Court.

M. K. Kanimozhi :

Political career - Daughter of 5 time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi.

Political party DMK. She is an MP, representing Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha (the

upper house of Indian Parliament).

Allegation - As per the chargesheet filed by Income Tax Department Kanimozhi has

20% stake in her family owned Kalaignar TV, her step-mother Dayalu Ammal owns 60%

stake in the same channel. CBI alleges that Kanimozhi was an "active brain" behind the

channel's operations and she worked along with former telecom minister A. Raja to

get DB Realty promoter Shahid Balwa to circuitously route 200 crore (US$3 9.9

million) to Kalaignar TV. According to CBI, Kanimozhi was in regular touch with A
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Status - Taken into custody (arrested) by CBI on 2 February 2011 and lodged in Tihar

jail since then (as of early February 2012) . Applied for bail a number of times but every

time bail got rejected. As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI

Court.

RK Chandolia :

Designation Raja's private secretary when licenses were granted.

Allegation - As per the charsheet filed by CBI, like Behura, Chandolia too conspired

with A. Raja and several other accused. The agency alleges that when the application

deadline time was declared as between 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Chandolia along with

Behura allegedly shut counters to physically block other telecom companies.

Charges - Criminal conspiracy to cause criminal breach of trust by a public servant,

criminal conspiracy under section 120 B, cheating under section 420 & forgery under

sections 468 and 471. Booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act

Status - Taken into custody (arrested) by CBI on 2 February 2011. Granted bail by the

special CBI court 1 December 2011 but on 2 December 2011 High Court took suo motu

notice of newspaper reports of the bail granted to Chandolia and stayed it. Chandoliaappealed against High Court order in Supreme Court and on 2 January 2012 the apex

court extended interim stay on High Court's order. As of February 2012, trial is being

conducted in Special CBI Court.
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Corporate executives accused

Corporates named as accused in the chargesheet filed by Income Tax Department in the

Special Court and charges framed against them by the Special court.

Sanjay Chandra

Designation - Former MD, Unitech Wireless


criminal conspiracy under section 120-B, cheating under section 420 & forgery under


Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 20 April 2011, granted bail on 24 November2011. As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI Court.

Gautam Doshi :

Designation - Group MD, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group




Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 20 April 2011, granted bail on 24 November

2011. As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI Court.

Hari Nair :

Designation - Senior Vice-President, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group



sections 468 and 471.Booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act
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Surendra Pipara :

Designation - Senior vice- President, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group






Vinod Goenka :

Designation - Promoter and Managing Director, DB Realty & Swan Telecom


criminal conspiracy under section 120 B, cheating under section 420, forgery under

sections 468 and 471, fabrication of evidence under section 193. Booked under

the Prevention of Corruption Act



Shahid Balwa :

Designation Promoter, DB Realty & Swan Telecom

Charges - Criminal conspiracy to cause criminal breach of trust by a public servant

Criminal conspiracy under section 120-B, cheating under section 420, forgery under

sections 468 and 471 & fabrication of evidence under section 193. Booked under

the Prevention of Corruption Act.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_Anil_Dhirubhai_Ambani_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_Anil_Dhirubhai_Ambani_Group


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Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 8 February 2011, granted bail on 29 November


Asif Balwa (younger brother of Shahid Balwa) :

Designation Director, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables


criminal conspiracy under section 120-B, cheating under section 420, forgery under

sections 468 and 471 & fabrication of evidence under section 193. Booked

under Prevention of Corruption Act

Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 29 March 2011, granted bail on 28 November2011. As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI Court.

Rajiv Agarwal :

Designation - Director, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables



sections 468 and 471, fabrication of evidence under section 193. Booked


Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 29 March 2011, granted bail on 28 November


Sharath Kumar

Designation Managing Director, Kalaignar TV



sections 468 and 471 & fabrication of evidence under section 193. Booked

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaignar_TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaignar_TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwa


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Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 20 May 2011, granted bail on 28 November 2011.

As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI Court.

Ravi Ruia :

Designation - Vice Chairman, Essar Group

Charges - Criminal conspiracy under section 120 B & cheating under section 420

of Indian Penal Code.

Status - Not taken into custody as yet. As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in

Special CBI Court.

Anshuman Ruia :

Designation - Director, Essar Group




Special CBI Court.

Vikas Saraf :

Designation - Director for strategy and planning, Essar Group




Special CBI Court.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruia


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IP Khaitan :

Designation - Promotor, Loop Telecom

Charges - Criminal conspiracy under section 120 B & cheating under section 420of Indian Penal Code.


Special CBI Court.

Kiran Khaitan :

Designation - Promotor, Loop Telecom




Special CBI Court.

Film and entertainment persons accused

Karim Morani :

Designation - (Promoter and Director, Cineyug Films)

Allegation - In the chargesheet filed by Income Tax Department the agency alleged that

Karim Morani owned Cineyug Films was a part of the circuitous route used by another

accuse Shahid Balwa to transfer illegal gratification

of 200 crore (US$39.9million) to Kalaignar TV of which Kanimozhi, was a director. According to the

chargesheet ,Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka, promoters of DB Realty transferred

209.25 crore (US$4 1.75 million) to Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables of which Shahid

Balwa's younger brother Asif Balwa was a director. Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetables then
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaignar_TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaignar_TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobile


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transferred a sum of 200 crore (US$3 9.9 million) to Cineyug Films whose promoter

Karim Morani transferred it to Kalaignar TV


criminal conspiracy under section 120-B, cheating under section 420, forgery undersections 468 and 471, fabrication of evidence under section 193. Booked under

the Prevention of Corruption Act

Status - Taken into custody by CBI on 30 May 2011, granted bail on 28 November 2011.

As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI Court.

Corporations accused

Companies named in the chargesheet filed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and

the Income Tax Department in the Special court and charges framed against them.

Unitech Wireless :



sections 468 and 471. Booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Status - As of February 2012, trial is being conducted in Special CBI Court.

Reliance Telecom :




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaignar_TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaignar_TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crore


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Swan Telecom :





Other companies named in the chargesheet are :

Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd

Loop Mobile India Ltd

Essar Tele Holding

Essar (Parent group of Essar Tele Holding)

Media persons' dubious role

Media sources such as OPEN and Outlook reported that two senior journalists Barkha

Dutt (Group Editor of NDTV) and Vir Sanghvi (Editorial Director of Hindustan

Times) knew that corporate lobbyist Nira Radia was influencing the decisions of

appointment of telecom minister. Radia wanted A Raja to be made telecom minister. The

two magazines made public the telephone conversations between Nira Radia, Barkha

Dutt & Vir Sanghvi.

Radia's phones were being tapped by Income Tax department. Critics allege that Barkha

Dutt and Vir Sanghvi knew about nexus between government and the media industry but

still they supported this corrupt activity and suppressed news reporting the discovery of

the corrupt practice. However these people were not named as accused in the chargesheet

filed by Income Tax Department,but were investigated by the CBI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEN_(Indian_magazine)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlook_(magazine)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDTVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vir_Sanghvihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Timeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Timeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nira_Radiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nira_Radiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nira_Radiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nira_Radiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vir_Sanghvihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vir_Sanghvihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nira_Radiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nira_Radiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Timeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Timeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vir_Sanghvihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDTVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkha_Dutthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlook_(magazine)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEN_(Indian_magazine)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Corruption_Act,_1988http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecom


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Chronology of events and investigation

May 2007 : A Raja takes over as Telecom Minister.

August 2007 : Process of allotment of 2G spectrum for telecom along with

Universal Access Service (UAS) Licences initiated by the Department of

Telecommunications (DoT).

25 September 2007 : Telecom Ministry issues press note fixing deadline for

application as 1 October 2007.

1 October 2007 : DoT receives 575 applications for UAS licences of 46

companies.

2 November 2007 : The Prime Minister writes to Raja directing him to ensure

allotment of 2G spectrum in a fair and transparent manner and to ensure that licence feewas properly revised. Raja writes back to the Prime Minister rejecting many of his

recommendations.

22 November 2007 : Finance Ministry writes to DoT raising concerns over the

procedure adopted by it. Demand for review rejected.

10 January 2008 : DoT decides to issue licences on first-come-first-serve basis,

preponing the cut-off date to 25 September, from 1 October 2007. Later on the same day,

DoT posted an announcement on its website saying those who apply between 3.30 pmand 4.30 pm would be issued licences in accordance with the said policy.

2008 : Swan Telecom, Unitech and Tata Teleservices sell off a part of their stakes

at much higher rates to Etisalat, Telenor and DoCoMo, respectively.

4 May 2009 : An NGO Telecom Watchdog files complaint to the Central

Vigilance Commission (CVC) on the illegalities in the spectrum allocation to Loop

Telecom.

19 May 2009 : Another complaint was filed to the CVC by Arun Agarwal,

highlighting grant of spectrum to Swan Telecom at throwaway prices.

2009 : CVC directs CBI to investigate the irregularities in allocation of 2G

spectrum.

1 July 2009 : Delhi HC holds advancing of cut-off date as illegal on a petition of

telecom company S-Tel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigation


15/27

21 October 2009 : CBI registers a case and files an FIR against unknown officers

of DoT and unknown private persons/companies under various provisions of IPC and

Prevention of Corruption Act.

22 October 2009 : Income Tax Department raids DoT offices.

16 November 2009 : CBI seeks details of tapped conversation

of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia to find out involvement of middlemen in the grant

of spectrum to telecom companies. It has sought help from the Directorate General of

Income Tax Investigation regarding information on Ms. Nira Radia of M/s Noesis

Consultancy and records pertaining to middlemen regarding award of 2G spectrum

licences

13 March 2010 : SC upholds Delhi HC verdict on cut off date advancement as

illegal

31 March 2010 : CAG says that there was large scale irregularities in the

spectrum allocation.

2 April 2010 : CBI DIG (Investigations) Vineet Agarwal IRS and Director

General of Income Tax (Investigations) Milap Jain IRS, who were investigating the case,

transferred.Milap Jain was transferred as Director General of International Taxation.

6 May 2010 : Telephonic conversation between Raja and Niira Radia taped by the

Income Tax Department made public by the media. May, 2010 : NGO Centre for Public Interest litigation moves the Delhi High Court

seeking investigation into the scam by SIT.

25 May 2010 : Delhi HC dismisses the petition.

August 2010 : Appeal filed in the Supreme Court against the High Courts order.

18 August 2010 : HC refuses to direct the Prime Minister to decide on a complaint

by Janata Party chief Swamy seeking sanction to prosecute Raja for his involvement in

2G scam. 13 September 2010 : SC asks government, Raja to reply within 10 days to three

petitions filed by CPIL and others alleging there was a 70,000 crore (US$1 3.97

billion) scam in the grant of telecom licences in 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_General_of_Income_Tax_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_General_of_Income_Tax_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_tapes_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_tapes_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_General_of_Income_Tax_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_General_of_Income_Tax_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate


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24 September 2010 : Swamy moves SC seeking direction to the PM to sanction

prosecution of Raja.

27 September 2010 : Income Tax Department informs SC of probe against firms

suspected to have violated FEMA. Says cant deny or confirm now Rajas involvement in

the scam.

8 October 2010 : SC asks government to respond to CAG report about the scam.

21 October 2010 : Draft reports of CAG placed before the Supreme Court.

29 October 2010 : SC pulls up CBI for its tardy progress in the investigations into

the scam.

10 November 2010 : CAG submits report on 2G spectrum to government stating

loss of 176,000 crore (US$35.11 billion) to exchequer.

11 November 2010 : DoT files affidavit in SC saying CAG did not have the

authority to question the policy decision as per which licence were issued to new players

in 2008.

14 November 2010 : A Raja resigns as Telecom Minister

15 November 2010 : Kapil Sibal given additional charge of Telecom Ministry.

20 November 2010 : Affidavit on behalf of PM filed in Supreme Court. Rejects

charge of inaction on Swamys complaint.

22 November 2010 : CBI tells SC it will file charge sheet in the case within three

months.

22 November 2010 : CBI tells SC role of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia would be

questioned by it.

24 November 2010 : SC reserves verdict on Swamys plea seeking direction to

PM for grant of sanction to prosecute Raja.

25 November 2010 : SC ticks off CBI for not questioning Raja.

29 November 2010 : CBI files status report on 2G spectrum scam probe. 30 November 2010 : SC questions CVC P J Thomass moral right to supervise

CBIs probe into 2G spectrum scam as he himself was Telecom Secretary at that point of

time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigation


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1 December 2010 : SC directs original tapes containing conversation between

corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and others be handed over to it.

1 December 2010 : Raja questions CAG findings in the SC.

2 December 2010 : Government places recorded tapes in the SC.

2 December 2010 : SC comes down heavily on Raja for bypassing and overruling

PMs advice to defer allocation of 2G spectrum by a few days.

8 December 2010 : SC favours including in the probe period since 2001 when

first-come-first-serve was the norm for spectrum allocation.

8 December 2010 : SC asks Centre to consider setting up of a special court to try

2G spectrum scam case.

8 December 2010 : Income Tax Department submits report. Says money trail

covers 10 countries, including Mauritius.

14 December 2010 : Another PIL in SC seeking cancellation of new telecom

licences and 2G spectrum allocated during Rajas tenure.

15 December 2010 : Swamy files petition in a Delhi court seeking his inclusion as

a public prosecutor in 2G spectrum case.

15 December 2010 : Swamy mentions in complaint that Raja favoured

ineligible private companies Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd and Unitech Wireless Ltd in

allocating the spectrum.

16 December 2010 : SC decides to monitor the CBI inquiry

4 January 2011 : Swamy moves SC seeking cancellation of 2G spectrum licenses.

10 January 2011 : Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on the plea seeking

cancellation of 2G licenses. Also issues notices to 11 companies which allegedly did not

fulfill the roll-out obligations or were ineligible.

30 January 2011 : Governments decision to regularise licenses of the companies

which failed to meet the deadline for roll-out obligation challenged in the Supreme Court. 2 February 2011 : Raja, former Telecom Secretary Siddartha Behura and Rajas

former Personal Secretary R K Chandolia arrested and next day they were remanded in

CBI custody.


18/27

8 February 2011 : Raja remanded to two more days of CBI custody. Behura and

Chandolia sent to judicial custody.

8 February 2011 : Shahid Usman Balwa, promoter of Swan Telecom, arrested by

CBI.

10 February 2011 : SC asks CBI to bring under its scanner corporate houses

which were beneficiaries of the 2G spectrum. Raja remanded to CBI custody for four

more days by a special CBI court along with Balwa.

14 February 2011 : Rajas CBI custody extended for three more days. Balwas

custody extended for four days.

17 February 2011 : Raja sent to Tihar Jail under judicial custody.

18 February 2011 : Income Tax Department questions Kani Mozhi in Chennai

Headquarters.

24 February 2011 : CBI tells a Delhi court that Balwa facilitated transaction to

Kalaignar TV.

28 February 2011 : Raja seeks judicial proceedings through video conferencing

stating that he faces threat to life from fellow prisoners.

1 March 2011 : CBI tells SC that 63 persons are under scanner. Raja allowed by

CBI court to appear before it via video-conferencing.

14 March 2011 : The Delhi High Court sets up special court to deal exclusively

with 2G cases. Balwa also allowed to appear via video-conferencing.

17 March 2011 : SC reserves order on cancellation of 2G licenses. It rejected

companies' claim saying that Principle of Estoppel can't be applied to protect illegality.

29 March 2011 : SC permits CBI to file charge sheet on 2 April instead of 31

March. Two more persons Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal arrested.

2 April 2011 : CBI files its first charge sheet in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

25 April 2011 : CBI files second charge sheet and court issues summons toKanimozhi, Sharad Kumar and Karim Morani taking cognizance of the charge sheet.

6 May 2011 : Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar appear before court and file bail

pleas while Morani sought exemption from appearance on medical ground.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoppelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoppelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_india


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6 May 2011 : SC issues contempt notice to Sahara India managing

director Subroto Roy and two others for alleged interference in the

ongoing ED investigation into the 2G spectrum case.

7 May 2011 : Special CBI Court reserves order on Kanimozhi and Sharad

Kumars bail applications.

14 May 2011 : Special CBI Court defers order on their bail pleas for 20 May.

20 May 2011 : Special CBI Court rejects bail pleas of Kanimozhi and Sharad

Kumar and orders their forthwith arrest saying that there was a possibility of witnesses

being influenced considering the magnitude of the crime.

8 June 2011 : Delhi HC rejects bail pleas of Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar citing

that there are certain prima facie evidences against the accused and they may be in a

position to influence the 2G probe

20 June 2011 : SC rejects Kanimozhis bail plea

25 July 2011 : Arguments on Charge begins. Raja seeks to make Prime Minister

and former finance minister P Chidambaram as witness.

26 August 2011 : Special CBI court allows Subramanian Swamy to argue his own

case (mainly to address the possible loop holes in CBI investigation of the case)

30 August 2011 : Income Tax Department orders freezing of accounts, attachment

of properties worth 223 crore (US$4 4.49 million) of five companies mainly related

to DB Realty under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

1 September 2011 : ED files status report in Supreme Court, says there have been

FEMA violation of 10,000 crore

15 September 2011 : Swamy pleads before special CBI court that P Chidambaram

should be made co-accused

22 September 2011 : CBI defends Chidambaram in SC, blames DoT for all

wrongs. 26 September 2011 : CBI moves plea for framing fresh charge for criminal breach

of trust against Raja, Chandolia and Behura.

29 September 2011 : CBI says role of Anil Ambani being probed, gives a virtual

clean chit to Tata and Videocon group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara_India_Pariwarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subroto_Royhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_General_of_Economic_Enforcementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Money_Laundering_Act,_2002http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enforcement_Directoratehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enforcement_Directoratehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Money_Laundering_Act,_2002http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_General_of_Economic_Enforcementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subroto_Royhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara_India_Pariwarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_india


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29 November 2011 : The special CBI court grants bail to Shahid Balwa citing

principle of parity that SC and HC have already granted bail to 10 other accused

1 December 2011 : The special CBI court grants bail to A. Raja's ex-private

secretary R. K. Chandolia and puts additional condition to not visit the DoT without prior

permission of the court

2 December 2011 : Taking a suo motu cognizance, HC stays bail given by trial

court to R K Chandolia

7 December 2011 : SC stays HC's suo motu order against Chandolia's bail

8 December 2011 : The special CBI court accepts Swamy's plea

against Chidambaram to become a witness in his own complaint and examine 2

witnesses, including senior CBIofficial and senior Finance Ministry official

12 December 2011 : CBI files third charge sheet naming Essar

Group promoters Ravi Ruia, his son Anshuman Ruia and its director (Strategy and

Planning) Vikas Saraf, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan (sister of Ravi Ruia) and

her husband I P Khaitan. It also charge sheets Loop Mobile India Ltd, its subsidiary Loop

Telecom Pvt Ltd and Essar Tele Holding.

16 December 2011 : HC rejects bail plea of Siddharth Behura saying "he was the

perpetrator of the illegal designs of Raja and would not claim benefit of parity with 10

others released on bail" 2 February 2012 : The Supreme court of India cancelled all 122 licenses allotted

during A Raja tenure and imposed Rs 5 crore(US$ 1,018,122) fine on Unitech, Swan &

Tata Teleservices. It also imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, S-Tel,

Allianz Infratech and Sistema Shyam Tele Services Ltd. It also asked trial court to decide

whether Home Minister P Chidambram should be made co-accused in 2G scam.

4 February 2012 : The special court of justice O.P Saini dismissed the plea of

Subramanian Swamy to make then Finance Minister P.Chidambram as co-accused in the2G scam.

8 February 2012 : ED registers money laundering case

against DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran for allegedly

receiving illegal gratification of about 550 crore in the Aircel -Maxis deal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Telecommunication#Department_of_Telecommunicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suo_motuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suo_motuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subramanian_Swamyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P_Chidambaramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar#Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enforcement_Directoratehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMKhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayanidhi_Maranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalanithi_Maranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxis_Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxis_Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalanithi_Maranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayanidhi_Maranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMKhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enforcement_Directoratehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar#Communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Ruiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essar_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargesheethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bureau_of_Investigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P_Chidambaramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subramanian_Swamyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suo_motuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suo_motuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Telecommunication#Department_of_Telecommunicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court_of_india


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23/27

Licenses quashed

On 2 February 2012 Supreme Court of India quashed all 122 spectrum licences granted

during the tenure of former communications minister A Raja. The allocation of 2G

spectrum was described by Supreme Court as "unconstitutional and arbitrary". The benchof Justice GS Singhvi & Justice AK Ganguly imposed fine of 5 crore (US$1 million) on

Unitech Wireless, Swan telecom and Tata Teleservices and 50 lakh (US$99,800) fine

on Loop Telecom, S Tel, Allianz Infratech and Sistema Shyam Tele Services Ltd. The

Supreme Court's ruling said the current licences will remain in place for four months, in

which time the government should decide fresh norms for issuing licences.

The Supreme Court said in its order that then telecom minister A. Raja "wanted to favour

some companies at the cost of the public exchequer" and listed seven steps he took toensure this happened. According to the Supreme Court of India the seven steps were :

1. After taking over as telecom minister, Raja directed that all applications received

for UAS licences should be kept pending till receipt of the Trai's recommendations.

2. The recommendations made by Trai on 28 August 2007, were not placed before

the full Telecom Commission which would have included the finance secretary. The

notice of the meeting of the Telecom Commission was not given to any of the non-

permanent members though Trai's recommendations for allocation of 2G spectrum had

serious financial implications and it was therefore necessary for DoT to take the finance

ministry's opinion under the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961.

3. The DoT officers who attended the Telecom Commission meeting held on 10

October 2007, had no choice but to approve Trai's recommendations, since they would

otherwise have "incurred" Raja's "wrath".

4. Since Cabinet had approved recommendations made by the Group of Ministers,

the DoT had to discuss the issue of spectrum pricing with the finance ministry. But, sinceRaja knew that the finance secretary had objected to the allocation of 2G spectrum at

rates fixed in 2001, he did not consult the finance minister or other officials.

5. Raja brushed aside the law minister's suggestion that the matter should be placed

before the empowered group of ministers. Also, within hours of the receipt of the
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25/27

Telecom companies affected by cancellation of licenses

The table below shows list of companies whose license were cancelled

Name of company Parent groupNumberof licenses

cancelled

Uninor

Joint venture between Unitech

Group of India and Telenor of

Norway Unitech Group

22

Sistema Shyam

TeleServices Limited,

now MTS India

Joint venture between Shyam group

of Indian and Sistema of Russia21

Loop Mobile formerly

BPL MobileOwned by Khaitan Holding Group 21

Videocon

Telecommunications

Limited

Owned by Videocon group of India 21

Etisalat-DB

Joint venture between Swan

Telecom of India and Etisalat of

UAE

15

Idea Cellular Aditya Birla Groupof India

(49.05%), Axiata Group Berhad of 13
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_Shyam_TeleServices_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_Shyam_TeleServices_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTS_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videoconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea_Cellularhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea_Cellularhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aditya_Birla_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiata_Group_Berhadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiata_Group_Berhadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aditya_Birla_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea_Cellularhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Telecomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videoconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocon_Telecommunications_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Mobilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTS_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_Shyam_TeleServices_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_Shyam_TeleServices_Limitedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninor


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Name of company Parent group

Number

of licenses

cancelled

Malaysia (15%) & Providence

Equity( 10.6%)of USA

S Tel

Joint venture between C

Sivasankaran of India and Batelco of

Bahrain. After the Supreme Court's

decision Batelco sold its 42.7% staketo C Sivasankaran company Sky City

Foundation Ltd. for $175 millio n[188]

6

Tata Teleservices Owned by Tata Group of India 3

After effects of Supreme Court's verdict

Batelco quits India - Batelco, the Bahrain telecommunications company holding

42.7% stake in S Tel declared that it has agreed to sell its entire holding to Indian partner

Sky City Foundation Ltd for 65.8 million Bahraini dinar ($174.5 million).

Telenor dumps and sues Unitech - On 21 February 2012 Telenor, majority

stakeholder in Uninor, dumped its Indian partner Unitech and sued it seeking indemnity

and compensation .

Etisalat sues Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka - On 23 February

2012 Etisalat of the Etasalat-DB Telecom sued Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka,

promoters of its Indian partne rDB Realty for fraud and misrepresentation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_Equity_Partnershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_Equity_Partnershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Telhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Telhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sivasankaranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sivasankaranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batelcohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batelcohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sivasankaranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_scam#cite_note-first_to_exit-187http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_scam#cite_note-first_to_exit-187http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_scam#cite_note-first_to_exit-187http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Teleserviceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Teleserviceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Tel#Aftermathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Tel#Aftermathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batelcohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Telhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninor#Controversieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninor#Controversieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etisalathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporation#Etisalat_.E2.80.93_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Realtyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporation#Etisalat_.E2.80.93_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Telecommunications_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Goenkahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Balwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etisalathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitech_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninor#Controversieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Telhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batelcohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Tel#Aftermathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Teleserviceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_scam#cite_note-first_to_exit-187http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sivasankaranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batelcohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batelcohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sivasankaranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sivasankaranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Telhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_Equity_Partnershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_Equity_Partners


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Response to scam

Opposition demands Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) - As soon as the

Indian media started citing Comptroller and Auditor General of India' s report which

pegged the loss at 1.76 lakh crore, the Indian opposition parties unanimously demanded

formation of Joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to investigate 2G scam. However the

Indian government rejected the demand of opposition. Later when the winter session of

parliament began on 9 November 2010, opposition again pressed for (JPC) but once

again the demand was rejected. The opposition's demand for (JPC) gained further

momentum when Comptroller and Auditor General of India' s report was tabled

in Parliament on 16 November 2011. The opposition blocked parliament proceedings and

again pressed for JPC. With Govt again rejecting the demand there was logjam inparliament. Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar tried to break the logjam but her

efforts didn't bear any fruit. Finally the winter session of parliament concluded on 13

December 2010 . The plan was to introduce 22 new bills, take up 23 pending bills for

consideration and passing and withdraw three bills but that didn't happen because the

parliament was allowed to function for only 9 hours. In February 2011, after resisting the

Opposition demand for over three months, the government finally agreed to constitute

a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G spectrum allocation issue. The

government announced it formally on 22 February 2011.

Jayalalitha accuses M.Karunanidhi In early November 2010

Jayalalithaa accused the state chief minister M Karunanidhi of protecting A. Raja from

corruption charges and called for A. Raja' s resignation. By mid November A.

Raja resigned.

CAG issues show-cause notices - In mid November the comptroller Vinod

Rai issued show-cause notices to Unitech, S Tel, Loop Mobile, Datacom (Videocon), and

Etisalat to respond to his assertion that all of the 85 licenses granted to these companies

did not have the up-front capital required at the time of the application and were in other

ways illegal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller_and_Auditor_General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller_and_Auditor_General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_Lok_Sabhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meira_Kumarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayalalithaahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayalalithaahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_Karunanidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller_and_Auditor_General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Raihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Raihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Raihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinod_Raihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller_and_Auditor_General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Rajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_Karunanidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayalalithaahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayalalithaahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meira_Kumarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_Lok_Sabhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller_and_Auditor_General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller_and_Auditor_General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_parliamentary_committee

what is 2g scam

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