Additional spectrum: Hearing against Sunil Mittal, Ravi Ruia on 12 Jan
The corruption case relates to allocation of additional spectrum during National Democratic Alliance rule in 2002
New Delhi The special 2G court on Wedenesday fixed 12 January for hearing a corruption case related to allocation of additional spectrum during National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule in 2002 in which Bharti Cellular CMD Sunil Mittal, Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia and others have been summoned as accused.
Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O.P. Saini fixed the matter for 12 January after the counsel appearing for accused said that Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on the pleas filed by Mittal and Ruia challenging the 19 March, 2013 order of trial court summoning them as accused in the case.
The apex court, in its 26 April last year interim order, had said that hearing against Mittal and Ruia in the case will remain “postponed" in the trial court until further orders.
Mittal, Ruia and Canada-based NRI Asim Ghosh, who was then a managing director of accused firm Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd, were summoned as accused by the trial court.
The court had also summoned former telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh, who was named by CBI in the charge sheet as accused in the case along with three telecom firms. Mittal, Ruia and Asim Ghosh were not named as accused in CBI’s charge sheet filed on 21 December, 2012 but the court had summoned them as accused while taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the agency.
Besides Shyamal Ghosh, three telecom firms Bharti Cellular Ltd, Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd (now known as Vodafone India Ltd) and Sterling Cellular Ltd (now known as Vodafone Mobile Service Ltd) were also named as accused in the CBI’s charge sheet. CBI, in its charge sheet, had named Shyamal Ghosh and the three telecom companies as accused in the case relating to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allocating additional spectrum which had allegedly resulted in a loss of ₹ 846 crore to the exchequer.
In the 57-page charge sheet, CBI has booked Shyamal Ghosh and the three firms for the offences of criminal conspiracy (120-B) of the IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!