Balwa targets Tata as 2G scam 'beneficiary'

From : Times of India

Balwa targets Tata as 2G scam 'beneficiary'

NEW DELHI: Shahid Usman Balwa, Swan telecom promoter and an accused in the 2G case, on Wednesday took a dig at CBI for portraying Rata Tata as the "victim" in the scam. He alleged that the Tata Group chairman was one of the greatest beneficiaries in the allocation of radio waves.

Pressing for Balwa's bail before Special CBI judge O P Saini, his counsel Vijay Aggarwal alleged that CBI was trying to shield Tata by giving him a clean chit. He also submitted a document in the court, showing the correspondence between the company (Tata) and ex-telecom minister A Raja regarding donation to a hospital in the DMK leader's constituency in Tamil Nadu. "Tatas were being pursued for taking Kalaignar TV in the Tata Sky bouquet," Aggarwal submitted before the court.

The agency has alleged in its chargesheet that Tata Tele Services Ltd and Spice Communications, which had a head start over Swan Telecom in dual technology approvals, were "unreasonably deprived" of allocation of spectrum for the Delhi circle.

"There is no scientific assessment of the charge that the Delhi circle was the most lucrative and was available for only one player which is why I (Shahid Balwa) conspired to get hold of it. The DoT website shows that there are more spectrums available for the Delhi circle," the plea added.

CBI had submitted that Tata Tele Services Ltd and Spice Communication was hit hard by the conspiracy hatched by Raja, Balwa and Vivek Goenka of Swan Telecom and Sanjay Chandra of Unitech Wireless Ltd in allocation of 2G spectrum.

Aggarwal also contended that apart from Unitech, CBI is mum about the 85 other ineligible telecom companies. The court has reserved May 24 for its order on Balwa's bail plea.