New Delhi : A special court in Delhi Monday posted for Jan 28 the hearing of a case relating to grant of additional spectrum to private operators through a January 2002 central government decision during the previous NDA regime.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini adjourned proceedings till Jan 28 for scrutiny of documents related to the charge sheet filed in the case.
The court was informed that the Supreme Court has quashed the order of the 2G special court last Friday, summoning Bharti Cellular CMD Sunil Mittal and Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia as accused in the case.
The apex court order came on the pleas of Mittal and Ruia, challenging the special court’s order of March 19, 2013, by which it summoned them as the accused in the case.
Earlier, the hearing in the case was stayed April 26, 2013, by the Supreme Court.
The special court said it will read the Supreme Court order in the matter.
The CBI filed a charge sheet Dec 21, 2012, accusing former telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh and three telecom firms, Bharti Cellular Ltd., Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt. Ltd. (Vodafone India Ltd.), and Sterling Cellular Ltd. (Vodafone Mobile Service Ltd.).
The case relates to the department of telecommunications (DoT), allocating additional spectrum in a decision taken Jan 31, 2002, when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power, allegedly resulting in a loss of Rs.846 crore to the exchequer.
Although the CBI did not name Mittal, Ruia and then managing director of Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt. Ltd. Asim Ghosh, as accused, the special court issued summons to them.
The Essar group Friday welcomed the Supreme Court judgment and said in a statement: “The verdict of the Supreme Court setting aside the summoning order against vice chairman Ravi Ruia is a vindication of our position that we have not violated any law.”