A Delhi Court hearing the 2G case reserved its order for December 21 for taking cognisance of CBI’s third charge-sheet against Essar Group and Loop Telecom promoters and companies in 2G case.

The Special CBI Judge, Mr O.P. Saini, heard the CBI’s arguments on the charge-sheet accusing Essar Group and Loop promoters of conspiring to cheat the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), reserved the order for Wednesday.

Calling it a “complex corporate veil” the CBI said that an existing telecom operator having substantial shares in Vodafone (then Hutch), was having more than 10 per cent stake in Loop.

“Under a complex corporate veil fraudulently created by the accused companies and firms it shows that Loop was an alter ego of Essar which is an existing operator,” said Special Public Prosecutor, Mr U.U. Lalit

The CBI in the charge-sheet filed on December 12, named Essar group promoters, Mr Anshuman and Mr Ravi Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters, Ms Kiran Khaitan, her husband, Mr I.P. Khaitan, and Essar Group Director (Strategy and Planning), Mr Vikas Saraf as accused. The companies named as accused are Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding.

Essar Group, in a statement, had denied any involvement in the 2G scam and said it has complied with in totality with all the conditions of telecom licences.