2G: CBI tells SC it is probing alleged involvement of Anil Ambani in scam

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it is probing alleged involvement of Anil Ambani in the 2G scam. CBI told the apex court that it is going to probe further to find out real beneficiaries in the 2G scam.

The CBI has made fresh submissions in the court, stating that along with Reliance ADAG's Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair, Anil Ambani's role in the stake sale Swan to Delphi and finally Etisalat is being investigated. The investigating agency has established that the stake sale was made at grossly undervalued prices.

Another tide turner for Anil Ambani could be CBI's intension to turn Doshi, Pipara and Nair into approvers. The three ADAG officials have stated in the Delhi High Court that they did not have any decision making powers. This is in stark contrast to their submissions in the lower court, where they said that the decision making was done solely by them.

CBI's probe is expected to prove whether Swan was the front used by Reliance. Letters have been sent to Switzerland and Mauritius to find out greater details about the stake sale to Delphi. The next charge sheet is due only in the next 2-3 weeks.

Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL), an accused in 2G spectrum allocation scam, on Wednesday told a Delhi court that a report of the Law Ministry exonerates it as its stake in alleged beneficiary Swan Telecom was below 10 per cent.

The counsel for RTL sought discharge from the case saying initially the Anil Ambani-promoted firm held 9.9 per cent shares in Swan Telecom Private Ltd (STPL).

However, at the time of grant of license to STPL, RTL had no stakes in it and hence both companies, as per the Law Ministry report, cannot be termed "associate" of each other, S Ganesh, counsel for RTL, told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

The report of the Ministry of Law and Justice says an existing licensee telecom firm should have more than 10 per cent stakes in another firm at the time of grant of unified access services licenses (UASL) to the latter for being termed as associate, he said.