The ongoing CBI investigation into alleged malpractices, manipulation and favouritism by DoT officials over granting of 2G licences to new entrants in 2007 appears to be nailing down the apprehended concerns of some players and DoT officials as well as the Ministry to be in hand in glove with each other.

The investigations, as reported, reveal that owners of new entrants, Swan (now known as Etisalat) and Unitech (now known as Uninor) deposited the amount of Rs 1,651 crore towards licence fees while being seated in the chamber of Minister’s Private Secretary RK Chandolia while other applicants had to struggle it outside in a queue. The DoT officials were allegedly directed by DDG (Access Service) RK Srivastava to do so. Srivastava is being interrogated by the CBI.

The DoT officials allege that Swan and Unitech deposited the amount at 3.00 pm and were allotted serial number 1 and 2 respectively thereby making the two players top the list for first-come-first-serve allotment.

Another surprising fact as revealed by the DoT officials is that on January 10, 2008 the Minister asked the officials to issue a press release notifying that only those players will be offered licence who had submitted applications before September 25, 2007 by 2.45 pm. Such applicants were to deposit licence fees of Rs 1,651 crore on January 10, 2008 between 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. The surprising fact, again as alleged by DoT officials is that the owners of Swan and Unitech were already equipped with cheques of the required amount. This compels one to wonder if the owners knew well before hand of the DoT notification.

Swan and Unitech have been under lens ever since they have received licence. The roping in of foreign partners by the two players further intensified the watch on them by critics. Etisalat and Telenor are the strategic investors in Swan and Unitech respectively. Swan is involved in another issue regarding its alleged ownership with Anil Ambani group.