2G spectrum scam: CBI quizzes Anil Ambani on Swan link

Anil Ambani, chairman of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, was questioned for three hours by the CBI on Wednesday. After the questioning, Ambani left the CBI headquarters from the back door, escorted by the investigation officer in the 2G case. HT reports. Graphics: Cross-connections

Anil Ambani, chairman of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, was questioned for three hours by the CBI on Wednesday. After the questioning, Ambani left the CBI headquarters from the back door, escorted by the investigation officer in the 2G case. He didn’t answer any question thrown at him and sped away in a white ambassador (DL 3C DM 3573) with a ministry of home affairs sticker on it. He had arrived in his own car at around 3pm and entered from the front.



In a statement, ADAG said that "during the course of his weekly visit to Delhi, Ambani met CBI officials on Wednesday to clarify ongoing issues relating to telecom matters for the years 2001 to 2010". It also said no summons of any kind had been issued by the CBI.

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Sources said Ambani was questioned about the transfer of Swan Telecom’s ownership from ADAG to DB Realty. ADAG had transferred ownership of Swan Telecom in October 2007 to Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka of DB Realty.



Ambani was also asked about RCom’s dual technology licences, which allowed GSM-based mobile services though it was providing CDMA.



On Sunday, the company had said its application was on identical terms and involved the payment of identical fees as three other companies — Tata Teleservices, Himachal Futuristic Communications and Shyam Telecom (now Sistema) — and there was nothing amiss.

The CAG has said Swan Telecom appeared to be a “front company” for Reliance Telecom. In its report, CAG said it was “evident” that at the time of applying for universal access service license, the equity stake of Reliance Telecom in Swan Telecom was 10.71%, when rules said no company could own more than 10% in one service provider. As RCom was a national operator, Swan could not get licences.

The company said “neither Reliance Telecom nor RCom nor any Reliance ADA Group individual, company or affiliate held even a single share in Swan Telecom Ltd at the time of grant of 2G licence to them in January 2008, or at any time thereafter’. Investigators will also call the brass of Tata Teleservices, Idea Cellular and Shyam Systema, say sources.