Special CBI court acquits all accused in 2G spectrum scam

New Delhi: In a major relief to all the accused in the 2G spectrum scam, the special CBI court has given verdict in favour of them on Thursday. The Special Judge O.P. Saini has acquitted former telecom minister A Raja, DMK leader Kanimozhi and all other accused in the case.

There was an emergency like atmosphere in the court premises. The courtroom was cordoned off with ropes but could not stop the number of people from gathering in and out of the court. The metal detectors were cracked by the mob.

The alleged scam on the issuance of licences and allocation of 2G spectrum by the Department of Telecom occurred during the Congress-led UPA government's first tenure in 2008 but was widely reported in 2010 following a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

It is to be mentioned that the scam was related to allocation of airwaves licenses for cellphone networks in exchange for heavy amount of kickbacks by the former telecom minister A Raja. The scam is said to have caused the state a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

The Supreme Court had, earlier during the case, cancelled all the licenses issued by A Raja.

Here are the key highlights:

The Telecom Minister A Raja manipulated the policy and TRAI’s recommendations, and in blatant violation of law (TRAI Act) etc.

Raja sold licenses/2G spectrum to a handful of arbitrarily selected (120 out of 575) companies in January 2008 at a bargain base 2001 price. In doing so, he not only violated the law, committed several improprieties, but caused a loss to the exchequer of at least Rs 40,000 crore.

Companies who were not in the telecom business were invited to put in applications for licenses / 2G spectrum.

List of Accused :

A. Raja: Former Union Minister

Sharad Kumar: Managing Director, Kalaignar TV

Kanimozhi: Director, Kalaignar TV

Shahid Balwa: Swan Telecom

Siddhartha Behura: Sectretary, Department of Telecom

Ravindra Kumar Chandolia: Private Secretary to Minister

Vinod Goenka: Swan Telecom

Karin Morani: Cineyug Films

M/s Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd.

Sanjay Chandra: MD, Unitech Wireless

M/s Unitech Wireless

Gautam Doshi: Reliance Group

Surendra Pipara: Reliance Group

Hari Nair: Reliance Group

M/s Reliance Telecom Ltd

Asif Balwa: Kusegaon Fruits

Chronology:

May 2007: A Raja takes over as Telecom Minister.

Aug 2007: Process of allotment of 2G Spectrum along with UAS Licences initiated by Department of Telecom.

Sept 25, 2007: Telecom Ministry issues press note fixing deadline for application as October 1, 2007.

Oct 1, 2007: DoT receives 575 applications by 46 firms.

Nov 2, 2007: PM writes to Raja to ensure fair licence allocation and proper revision of fee. Raja writes to PM allegedly rejecting many of his recommendations.

Nov 22, 2007: Finance Ministry writes to DoT raising concerns over the procedure adopted.

Jan 10, 2008: DoT decides to issue licences on first—come—first—serve basis (FCFS), preponing cut—off date to September 25. Later in the day, DoT says those who apply between 3.30 and 4.30 pm would be issued licences.

2008: Swan Telecom, Unitech and Tata Teleservices sell off a part of their stakes at much higher rates to Etisalat, Telenor and DoCoMo respectively.

May 4, 2009: NGO "Telecom Watchdog"complains to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on the illegalities in the 2G spectrum allocation to Loop Telecom.

2009: CVC directs CBI to investigate the matter.

Oct 21, 2009: CBI files FIR against “unknown officers of DoT and unknown private persons/ companies and others“.

Mar 31, 2010: CAG report notes “whole process of issue of licence lacked fairness and transparency“.

May 2010: Government constitutes GoM for allocation of 3G spectrum, reducing DoT under Raja as mere implementing body.

Aug 18, 2010: HC refuses to direct PM to decide on a complaint by S. Swamy seeking sanction to prosecute Raja.

Sept 24, 2010: Swamy moves SC.

Oct 2010: SC asks government to respond to CAG report about the scam. Pulls up CBI for its tardy progress in probe.

Nov 10, 2010: CAG submits report on 2G spectrum to government stating loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to exchequer.

Nov 14—15, 2010: Raja resigns as Telecom Minister. Kapil Sibal given additional charge of Telecom Ministry.

Feb 10, 2011: SC asks CBI to bring under its scanner corporate houses which were beneficiaries of the 2G spectrum. Raja remanded to CBI custody.

Feb 17—18, 2011: Raja sent to Tihar Jai.

March 14, 2011: The Delhi High Court sets up special court to deal exclusively with 2G cases.

April 2, 2011: CBI files its first charge sheet. Names Raja, Chandolia and Behura. Reliance ADAG Group Managing Director Gautam Doshi, its senior Vice President Hari Nair, Group President Surendra Pipara, Swan Telecom Promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka and Managing Director of Unitech Ltd Sanjay Chandra made accused. Three companies — Reliance Telecom Ltd, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd — also charge sheeted.

April 25, 2011: CBI files second charge sheet naming DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s daughter and MP Kanimozhi, 4 others.

Oct 23, 2011: Charges framed against all 17 accused.

Nov 11, 2011: Trial begins.

Nov 23, 2011: SC grants bail to 5 corporate executives — Nair, Doshi, Pipara, Chandra and Goenka

Nov 28, 2011: Delhi HC grants bail to Kanimozhi, Kumar, Morani, Asif and Rajiv.

Nov 29, 2011: Special court grants bail to Shahid Balwa

Dec 12, 2011: CBI files third charge sheet. Names Essar Group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia, its director (Strategy and Planning) Vikas Saraf, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan and her husband I P Khaitan. Also charge sheets Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding.

Feb 2, 2012: SC cancels 122 licences granted during Raja's tenure. Directs auctioning of licences in 4 months.

Feb 2, 2012: SC refuses to ask CBI to probe role of Chidambaram.

Feb 4, 2012: Special Court dismisses Swamy's plea to make Chidambaram a co-accused.

Feb 23, 2012: Swamy moves SC against the trial court order on Chidambaram.

Aug 24, 2012: SC dismisses plea for probe against Chidambaram in the 2G case, says no prima facie material.

April 25, 2014: ED chargesheet Raja, Kanimozhi. CBI also files chargesheet.

April 19, 2017: Special court concludes arguments.