 "New twist in 2G trial: Fresh CBI probe into Tata-Unitech land deal")
The on-going investigations into the multi-crore 2G spectrum allocation scam that took place under the UPA government saw several twists on Tuesday.
The Central Bureau of Investigationtold the Supreme Court that it has instituted a fresh inquiry against Tata Realty-Unitech land deal worth Rs 1,700 crore of2007.
The apex court also asked for the CBI records of its probe against Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Telecom and Shahid Balwa’s Swan Telecom.
The CBI had earlier probed the deal involving Tata Realty as it was alleged that Unitech was a front of the Tata company and the transaction was aimed at funding its bidding for the telecom licence. The agency later tolda Parliamentary panel that there was no irregularity in the transaction. It has, however, said that in the light of some new information it has received, a fresh enquiry is to be initiated in the case, a report in the Business Standard has said.
_The Times of India_quotes Prashant Bhushan, counsel for the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, who cited passages from a report by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office before the Supreme Court.
“The companies of Tata group were put into service to route funds to the group companies of Unitech and these companies finally passed on the funds aggregating Rs 1,700 crore to Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd during March 2007 to March 2008. The money advanced by Tata Realty was in turn received from Tata Sons,“the report cited Bhushan as saying.
In connection with investigations into spectrum allocations made to Swan Telecom and Anil Ambani’s Reliance Telecom, the apex court directed the CBI to submit all files related to the case, according to The Economic Times.
The CBI drew flak from the Supreme Court over allegations that it was scuttling the probe against the Reliance Telecom. According to a report by CNN-IBN,the Centre for Public Interest Litigation alleged in the court that CBI director Ranjit Sinha had written a letter to CBI public prosecutor UU Lalit asking that him to seek a stay on the trial proceedings. This amounted to derailing the trial, it has been alleged.
The NGO also said Sinha was of the opinion that Reliance and Swan Telecom have been wrongly implicated in the case and there has to be further investigations into the case, the CNN IBN-report said adding Lalit has raised objection to the move saying it means interfering in the trial proceedings.
ET reports that the probe into Reliance also involved the transfer of original investigator in the case, Santosh Rastogi, despite the Supreme Court directive that the original team remain unchanged.He was transferred to the Special Crime unit of the CBI, replacing its DIG Madhup Tiwari, who has been sent to the banking fraud investigation unit.
Responding to the issue,Sinha said the transfer was purely an “administrative decision” and that Rastogi had not yet been relieved from his duties.
“He will continue in his position as directed by Supreme Court,” Sinha said on Tuesday.
Prashant Bhushan told the Supreme Courtthat even Lalit, who was appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor by the apex court for conducting the prosecution into 2G scam-related matters, has written a note to the CBI opposing Rastogi’s transfer.
With inputs from agencies
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