SC directs TDSAT to decide Idea’s plea on 3G allocation (India)
The Supreme Court has asked the telecom tribunal TDSAT to decide the plea of Aditya Birla group firm Idea Cellular against DoT to issue it 3G spectrum in Punjab where the allocation has been pending because of Idea’s merger with Spice Telecom.
A bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly asked the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to take a decision on the plea of Idea.
As per the bench, it is related with 3G spectrum allocation and it should be dealt with separately.
The TDSAT had stopped hearing after the Attorney General had mentioned before the Tribunal that the Supreme Court had restrained all courts from passing any order on allocation of spectrum.
Following that, Idea had approached the Supreme Court seeking its clarification on the issue.
Foreign funds traced in 2G scam, 31 firms under scan (India)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday submitted their progress report on 2G scam stating that 31 firms have come under the scrutiny.
The agency placed its latest status report of its investigation in the scam in a sealed envelope before a bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly in which it has mentioned that it is seeking the help of foreign authorities in tracking the source of money.
According to Senior Advocate, K K Venugopal, letters have been sent to Singapore, Cyprus, Jersey and Virgin Islands in connection with the 2G spectrum scam. Similar communications were being sent to two more countries.
He added that 31 companies have so far been summoned and statements of 26 companies have been recorded. Some Hawala operators were also involved in the scam and their premises were raided and they were questioned by the ED.
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly had stated while asking the government to consider setting up of the court. They emphasised that a special court is a must if they want the objectives of the statue to be achieved. It cannot be done with existing manpower and infrastructure.
The Centre had then approached the Delhi High Court which, in consultation with the Chief Secretary of the city government, decided to set up the special court. The Centre would inform the apex court on Wednesday when the matter relating to CBI investigation comes up for hearing.
India’s top court to supervise telecoms scam probe
Supreme Court of India will supervise investigation into a major telecom scandal that cost the country billions and paralyzed parliament’s proceedings for nearly four weeks.
According to Prashant Bhushan, an Attorney, Justices G. S. Singhvi and A. K. Ganguly will monitor the progress in the probe by India’s federal investigating agency.
The scandal forced the resignation of ex-Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja. In the past week, the Central Bureau of Investigation has carried out raids and searches at the offices of several companies and homes of nearly a dozen suspects, including politicians, retired government officials and lobbyists for the Indian industry.
