Licences for 2G spectrum causes loss of over Rs 22,000 cr: CBI

The CBI has alleged that the grant of 'Unified Access Service Licences' for 2G spectrum to some private companies have caused a loss of over Rs 22,000 crore to the government.

The CBI has alleged that the grant of 'Unified Access Service Licences' for 2G spectrum to some private companies have caused a loss of over Rs 22,000 crore to the government.

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"...the concerned officials of the Department of Telecommunications in criminal conspiracy with private persons or companies by abusing their official position granted Unified Access Service Licences to a few selected companies at nominal rate.

"....thereby causing wrongful loss to the government of India and a corresponding wrongful gain to private persons or companies estimated to be more than Rs 22,000 crore," said the FIR filed by CBI under Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC on October 21.

The CBI alleged this was done "in criminal conspiracy between certain officials of DoT and private persons or companies in order to award the licences to the companies for a heavy considerations by putting a cap on the number of applicants against recommendations of TRAI and by awarding licences to private persons or companies on first-come-first serve basis on the rates of 2001 without any competitive bidding."

The Telecom Ministry had come under attack for doling out spectrum very cheap compared to its actual market value.