Former Corporate lobbyist and key witness in the 2G Spectrum scam Niira Radia told a CBI court on Tuesday that Tata Telecom Services limited (TTSl) was ahead in the queue for 2G spectrum license in Delhi circle but the company did not win the bid.
Deposing in court for the first time, Radia said that though TTSl was advised by Department of Telecom that they were in queue and would get the spectrum, yet Swan Telecom got it. Radia said that Swan Telecom Pvt ltd "was not eligible" to get the 2G Spectrum licences as it was said to belong to Reliance ADAG group company Reliance Communications.
"During the time of grant of spectrum, there was a very strong public perception created by the media of eligibility and non-eligibility. Through the public perception and advice of Tata advocates, I came to know that this company (Swan Telecom) was not eligible," Radia said, testifying as a prosecution witness in the CBI court.
"At that time there were dossiers in circulation stating that the company (Swan Telecom) belonged to Reliance Communications though I do not have any authentic or personal knowledge," she added.
During the recording of the statement, Radia was also warned by the court for trying to evade the question of delay in CDMA licence to TTSl three years after having applied for it. Meanwhile, the CBI sought permission to submit 62 transcripts related to this case in court. However, the court deferred the further recording of Radia's statement till July 2.
At a point when Radia started speaking in an inaudible manner, the judge told her to be a little loud. "Don't talk to yourself or to the public prosecutor. Your answers should be audible to me. There are accused persons, defence counsel and other persons who are interested in this case, so you should be audible to them also," the judge said.
Radia was named as the prosecution witness by the CBI in its charge sheet filed in April 2011 against former Telecom Minister A Raja. The CBI, in its charge sheet, had alleged that Reliance Telecom ltd (RTl), an accused in the case, used Swan Telecom, an ineligible firm, as its front company to get licences and the costly radio waves.
Radia, who appeared in the court three months after she was asked on December 2 last year to testify as a CBI witness, entered the Patiala House Court complex through a back gate avoiding media glare. She had sought three months' time on the grounds that she had undergone a surgery for a neurological ailment.
Niira says
I am aware that TTSl had applied for dual technology licence in 2007. TTSl was granted a dual technology licence in 2008. However, it did not get spectrum.
TTSl was advised that they were in queue and would be granted spectrum as and when it would be available. I was coordianating the telecom matters with the Tatas and was not acting in this field singly. TTSl
I am not aware of their number for dual technolgy spectrum in Delhi service area. However, there were enough correspodence between Tatas and DOT saying that TTSl was ahead in the queue by virtue of their dual technology licence. They were existing CDMA operators.
TTSl has opposed allocation of specturm to Swan Telecom Private ltd and Reliance Communications. However, they were advised that they were in the queue and as and when the specturm would be available they would get it . This was the only reply we got from the DOT.
Through the public perception and advice of Tata’s advocates , I came to know that this company was not eligible.
TTSl was following up on their applications and they were advised by DOT officials that there were another company ahead of them by the name of Bycell or something and since application of this company was pending for security clearances, applications of Tatas were held up in queue.