The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday called in top officials of Unitech, Loop, Tata Realty and S-Tel for questioning in connection with the ongoing probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
In a related development, the CBI Director, Mr A.P. Singh, told the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that it would be wrong to say that zero loss had been caused to the exchequer in the 2G spectrum allocation.
Addressing newspersons, the PAC Chairman, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, said the CBI Director also told the Committee that he will not be able to quantify the loss caused by the 2G spectrum allocation as his primary focus was on the criminal side of the investigation.
Unitech responds
Meanwhile, in a statement, Unitech Ltd said that it was co-operating with the investigating agency from the very beginning and added that it had “nothing to hide”.
“All the nine telecom companies, who received the licenses, are being questioned by the agency and it is not specific to any one company,” the Unitech Managing Director, Mr Sanjay Chandra, said.
“Our officers have provided all records for examination and clarified all issues raised by them from time to time. Going forward, we will continue to assist in the same spirit,” he pointed out.
The top officials of other telecom companies who were allocated spectrum and licenses for 2G mobile phone services were also questioned by CBI.
On Monday, a Delhi court hearing the 2G case extended the CBI custody remand of the former Telecom Minister, Mr A. Raja, to February 17 and that of Mr Shahid Usman Balwa, ‘Director' of Swan Telecom, to February 18.
The CBI had alleged that the accused conspired in 2G spectrum licence allotment and caused losses of Rs 22,000 crore to the exchequer. It said Mr Raja showed undue favour to Swan Telecom in the grant of 2G licences, adding that the duo's interrogation could not be completed due to their evasive replies.