The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has rejected the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India?s (TRAI) report that it did not recommend auctioning 2G spectrum or increasing the required entry fees.
Prior to this, R.K. Arnold, secretary, TRAI had written to the CBI saying, “In all its recommendations, dating between October 2003 and August 2007, TRAI never mentioned auctioning spectrum.?
TRAI?s letter was in response to the CBI?s request that the regulator calculate the price of spectrum for all telecom circles between 2001 and 2008.
Thereafter, the agency has written to the regulator again, stating that its views are not in consonance with the recommendations of the expert committee which was constituted to determine the annual value of the spectrum.
In a latter to TRAI, the CBI said, “It is also relevant to mention that TRAI?s letter is not in consonance with the recommendations of the expert committee. CBI had sought in its letter dated January 19, 2011, the spectrum prices with effect from 2001 to 2008 on an annual basis on technical and commercial parameters by the expert committee already working on such issues.?
The agency has asked the regulator to examine the contradictions and facts of the case.
