Initiating the final arguments in the 2G scam case, CBI on Wednesday argued before the Special Court that former Telecom Minister A Raja had “misled” then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on policy matters pertaining to allocation of telecom licenses. Special Public Prosecutor Anand Grover said that Raja, in conspiracy with other accused, had advanced the cut-off date to favour accused firms Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless in allocation of 2G licences.
Grover said that the first-come-first-serve (FCFS) policy was changed to favour some of the accused and Raja even rejected the proposal of the then law Minister HR Bardwaj who had proposed that some of the key policy issues be referred to the Empowered Group of Ministers. Referring to the letters written by Raja on November 2, 2007 to the then Prime Minister, Grover said, “He (Raja), infact, misled him (Manmohan Singh) on FCFS and cut-off date.”
“Curious things happened in DoT which showed that this (change in FCFS policy) was deliberately done to favour the accused,” the prosecutor told Special Judge OP Saini. On the issue of grant of licence to ineligible companies, the prosecutor said that accused firm Swan Telecom was ineligible on the date of application for grant of radio waves as it was “actually owned by Tiger Traders through Reliance ADAG”.
The final arguments in the case would continue on May 25, the next date of hearing. Meanwhile the 2G court will continue with the ongoing final arguments in the Essar-loop case and will also begin the arguments in the money laundering case filed by Enforcement Directorate.