A. Raja assures probe into spectrum fraud

COIMBATORE - Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology, A. Raja, has said that action would be taken against those responsible in the wireless spectrum fraud.

“I made it clear any deviation in the lower level after the policy decision, which was taken by the government, to show favouritism to a specific company by a lower level officer, it will be dealt with,” Raja said on the sidelines of a function here on Saturday.

Raja added that the spectrum allotment was made under the regulator’s guidelines.

“I told the issuance of licences and the spectrum allotted for the licenses were taken in accordance with the recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India after the consultations with the Prime Minister,” Raja said.

India had awarded several new telecom licences in 2008.

On Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had searched the offices of the Department of Telecom in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum to some new companies.

According to CBI sources, a team of its sleuths conducted a search at Sanchar Bhawan here after registering a case in this connection.

In 2008, eight new companies were given licenses along with bundled 4.4 MHz spectrum to start mobile services.

Earlier, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) had criticized the Telecom Ministry for doling out spectrum to a very cheap compared to its actual market value.

The CVC had recommended a CBI probe into the procedures followed for selecting companies for giving 2G spectrum. (ANI)