The CBI which is investigating the controversy related to grant of new 2G licences in 2007 at throw away and alleged role of DoT officials in the process, may question BSNL management as well pertaining to entering of roaming agreement with Etisalat, then named Swan.
Financial Express reports that the CBI is investigating this as the roaming agreement had led to valuations of Swan Telecom surge which ultimately helped it while offloading its stake to Etisalat. The deal with Etisalat had valued Swan at $ 2 billion. Swan was valued higher than Unitech Wireless which has pan-India licence. Swan has licence to operate in only 15 circles.
The roaming deal signed in September last year was earlier questioned by others as well which complained that it led to favouritism as BSNL did not such arrangement with any of the other private players. BSNL however had maintained that the deal was only a MoU and not necessarily an agreement. BSNL had said it was a 6 month deal under trial basis and was non-exclusive in nature.
Financial Express further reports that DoT executives, Joint wireless adviser RJS Kushwaha and deputy wireless adviser D Jha were allegedly transferred for questioning the deal.
Swan has been under lens even for its ownership control. It was alleged that the company is indirectly owned by the ADAG. ADAG on its part maintains that it has exited the firm. Swan interestingly has entered into an infrastructure agreement with Reliance Infratel. |