CBI raids Bharti Airtel's office in Gurgaon

21 Nov 2011 Evaluate

The federal police as on November 19, 2011 conducted searches at Bharti Airtel's office in Gurgaon and unlisted telecom operator, Vodafone's office in Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the allocation of the nation's airwaves.

This move comes on the heels of India's Supreme Court’s decision of asking Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate any possible irregularities in the grant of licences from 2001 to 2007. Supreme Court is monitoring the probe into a 2007-2008 telecoms scandal that rocked the ruling Congress Party-led government.

The searches were conducted after CBI registered a case against ex-Telecom Secretary Shyamal Ghosh and the two telecom service providers. The case relates to alleged irregularities in allotting mobile spectrum during the previous government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is now in opposition. CBI on its website has alleged that 'undue favour' shown to companies has taxed the government about Rs 508 crore over 2001-2007.

According to CBI the former telecom ministry officials with approval of the then-telecom minister took an alleged 'hurried decision' on January 31, 2002, to grant additional spectrum beyond 6.2 megahertz to the companies in violation of the report of a technical committee. A state auditor has estimated a potential revenue loss of up to $39 billion to the government due to below-market sales of licences in 2007-08.

As per some reports Bharti Airtel on Saturday said that all spectrum given to it had been as per the government policy, while Vodafone said its documents were in complete compliance with the governing laws.

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