Former DoT official testifies against A Raja in 2G case

Former DoT official testifies against A Raja in 2G case

Former DoT official A K Srivastavatoday told a Delhi court that Private Secretary R K Chandoliaof erstwhile Telecom Minister A Raja had asked him to stopreceiving new applications for 2G spectrum licences once theUnitech group firms submit them.

Deposing before the court as a CBI witness, Srivastava,who retired as deputy director general (DDG) (Access Service)from Department of Telecom (DoT), said on September 24, 2007,Chandolia had told him that Unitech's applications will besubmitted to the department on that day itself.

"On September 24, 2007, when about 167 applications werealready received, R K Chandolia asked me whether applicationsof Unitech group have been received. I enquired from dealingsection and replied back to him that applications of Unitechgroup have not been received in the section till then.

"He (Chandolia) told me that applications of Unitech groupwill be submitted to DoT today and thereafter, I should stopreceiving further Unified Access Services Licence (UASL)applications," Srivastava told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

Srivastava's testimony assumes significance as the CBI, inits charge sheet, had said that in pursuance of a conspiracyto favour telecom firms, Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd andSwan Telecom, Raja had decided to accept applications filedwith DoT till September 25, 2007 only.

Raja and Chandolia, along with others, are facing trial inthe 2G case. Three telecom firms -- Unitech Wireless (TamilNadu) Ltd, Swan Telecom and Reliance Telecom Ltd are also anaccused in the case.

Srivastava, whose statement remained inconclusive today and would continue on August 6, said he had told Chandoliathat it was "not possible" to stop receiving applications forUASL after Unitech group submits their applications.

He said Chandolia then asked him to originate a proposalto put a cut-off date on receipt of further UASL applications.

"I told that it was not possible as new applicants have tobe given a reasonable time to apply for the UAS licences aftera public notice. He (Chandolia) then directed me to originatea proposal in the file to put a cut-off date on receipt offurther UASL applications.

"As directed by the PS to the then MOC&IT A Raja, Ioriginated this proposal in the file proposing that we mayannounce a cut-off date of October 10, 2007 for receipt of newUASL applications till further orders," he said.

Srivastava said he submitted the file to Raja throughproper channel and in the evening of September 24, 2007, heagain received a call from Chandolia to verify whether Unitechgroup companies had filed their applications.

He said that he had proposed a cut-off date of October 10,2007 for receipt of applications for the UASL but Raja onSeptember 24, 2007 decided to keep it to October 1, 2007 inview of pendency of large number of applications.

He said Raja had on October 18, 2007, granted in-principleapproval for dual technology to three companies - RelianceCommunications Ltd, Shyam Telelinks and HFCL Infotel.

"These three applications were processed as per the policyapproved by A Raja on October 17, 2007....

"These three applications were kept pending from 2006 tillOctober 18, 2007 as there was no clarity on the amount ofrequisite fee for grant of in-principle approval for dualtechnology. These applications were moved as per the Cabinetdecision of 2003 to grant in-principle approval as the licencewas technology neutral," Srivastava said.

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