Probe widens, licences for 2 more firms to be looked into

The Supreme Court on Thursday expanded the scope of the CBI probe into the 2G spectrum scam, directing the agency to investigate allocation of licences to Chennai-based telecom operator S-Tel and UAE-based Etisalat. HT reports.

The Supreme Court on Thursday expanded the scope of the CBI probe into the 2G spectrum scam, directing the agency to investigate allocation of licences to Chennai-based telecom operator S-Tel and UAE-based Etisalat.

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A bench of justice GS Singhvi and justice SS Nijjar passed this order, asking the CBI to investigate the national security angle in issuance of licences to the two companies. CBI counsel KK Venugopal told the court the agency would look into the matter if it was within its purview.

The court’s decision came after the bench perused a government file relating to cancellation of a licence given to S-Tel on the ground that it posed a threat to national security.

As for Etisalat, the court asked the CBI to investigate the firm’s antecedents as Janata Party leader Subramaniam Swamy had alleged that the department of telecommunications had gone against the home ministry’s recommendations and issued a licence to the company.