Centre owes an explanation over 2G verdict

Three 2G cases. As many as 35 arraigned, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal and daughter Kanimozhi. Not one found guilty. Instead, the CBI and Enforcement Directorate that probed the cases are now in the dock. That in essence was the outcome of the much-awaited verdict in the spectrum scam.

Special CBI judge O P Saini indicted the prosecution saying it miserably failed in proving corruption charges against any of the accused. This despite ample evidence that cut-off dates were advanced for 2G spectrum allocation and the first-come- first-serve policy was tweaked to first-come-first-pay and a select few were informed in advance. As Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pointed out, the chosen few had got bank drafts prepared on back dates. The SC had scrapped the allocations and directed filing of criminal cases.

While the then Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai’s report had a jaw-dropping estimate of Rs 1.76 lakh crore loss to the national exchequer in the allocation of 122 licences for 2G spectrum, the CBI presented a more modest figure of Rs 30,984 crore in its chargesheet. And UPA spin doctor Kapil Sibal came up with a zero-loss theory, which made him an object of ridicule.

Also there was documentation to establish the round tripping of Rs 200 crore to the then fledgling Kalaignar TV from DB Realty’s Shahid Balwa, one of the promoters of Swan Telecom, which was seen as quid pro quo for favours done. Yet the CBI and ED made a hash of it. The judge critiqued the enforcement agencies saying they misread file notings while building their case.

Having milked the case and won a general election, the BJP government owes an explanation to the country as to why the prosecution failed to connect the dots. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy blames it on internal sabotage. Hours after the judgment, both the ED and CBI announced their decision to appeal. As for the DMK and the Congress, they have every reason to feel vindicated. But the game is not yet over.