The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) called in Anil Ambani for questioning, amid allegations that his group received favours from former Minister of Telecommunications and IT, A. Raja in obtaining a dual technology licence, according to news reports. Also under the scanner is Reliance Telecom Limited?s alleged link to Swan Telecom.
Swan Telecom, in which Tiger Traders Private Limited has 90.13 equity share capital and RTL, 9.87 equity share capital, has been under the scanner over alleged diversion of funds to DMK-owned Kalaignar television.
It is believed that after Ambani, other top officials of telecom companies including those of Tata Teleservices Limited and Idea Cellular would be called for clarification.
According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), four companies, including Reliance Communications were given the green signal to provide CDMA-based mobile service under Unified Access Service licence. Based on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the use of dual technology was permitted on October 17, 2007 and RCOM is alleged to have applied even before the announcement of the policy.
Reliance Communications had complied with the requirements for permission to use dual technology on October 19 2007 itself by depositing the non refundable entry fee for 20 service areas through Reliance Infocomm Limited.
The CAG had said that acceptance of the bank draft from Reliance Infocomm Limited (a third party) on behalf of Reliance Communications was not in order and showed the hurry through which entry fee was deposited.
In a statement, the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group said, “During the course of his weekly visit to New Delhi, Ambani “met CBI officials today to clarify ongoing issues, relating to telecom matters for the years 2001 to 2010, and virtually every telecom operator in the country”. It added that no summons of any kind have been issued to Ambani by the CBI.
The ADAG statement said, “Neither Reliance Telecom nor Reliance Communications, nor any Reliance ADA Group individual, company or affiliate held even a single share in Swan Telecom Ltd at the time of grant of the 2G licence to them in January, 2008, or at any time thereafter”.
