Arguments on framing of charges in the 2G spectrum allocation case continued on Friday with the CBI Special Public Prosecutor, U. U. Lalit, stating that the first-come-first-served policy for spectrum allocation was not carried out in letter and in spirit.
According to Mr. Lalit, the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja, amended a press release to redefine the established first-come-first-served policy in favour of a system based on Letter Of Intent (LOI) compliance. This ended up benefiting Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless.
Mr. Lalit also placed before the court evidence that showed both the companies having prior knowledge of their being prioritised as their bank guarantees and demand drafts as per the LOI were kept ready as early as October and November 2007, almost three months before the press release asking applicants to collect the LOI on January 10, 2008. benefiting
Undue favour to RCom
Undue favour was also accorded to the Reliance Communication Ltd. in allocating dual technology by granting in-principle approval for dual technology spectrum on October 18, 2007, a day before a press notification on this matter informing other operators of this facility was released on October 19, 2007, after which Tata Teleservices Ltd. and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd. and other existing operators applied.
Mr. Raja maintained a cheerful countenance throughout the arguments on framing of charges against him, occasionally conferring with his lawyer.
