2G scam: Unitech MD finds fault with licences of Sistema Shyam

NEW DELHI: Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra, facing trial in the 2G spectrum case, today told a Delhi court that applications for grant of 2G licences filed by rival Shyam Telelink Ltd, which has entered in joint venture with Russia's Sistema, were required to be "summarily rejected" as there were defects in it.

Chandra alleged Shyam Telelink took "advantage" of net worth of Sistema to apply for UAS licences without entering into agreement before the September 25, 2007, cut-off date.

These arguments were made by Chandra's counsel Rebecca John, who was cross-examining T Narasimhan, a prosecution witness and Deputy CEO of Indo-Russian joint venture Sistema Shyam Teleservices which operates under the brand name MTS.

Narasimhan, however, denied all the allegations levelled by Chandra's counsel and during his deposition before Special CBI Judge O P Saini said applications for UAS licences were filed by Shyam Telelink based on the net worth of Sistema JSFC and there was agreement prevailing between them when the applications were submitted on September 25, 2007.

"It is wrong to suggest that the applications filed by Shyam Telelink Ltd were full of defects and were required to be summarily rejected by the DoT. It is wrong to suggest that Shyam Telelink took advantage of net worth of Sistema, though by that time it had not even entered into an agreement with it.

"It is wrong to suggest that promoters of Shyam Telelink sold their shares to Sistema and made huge profits in the bargain," Narasimhan said, adding "the shares were sold at par".