The CBI on Tuesday informed a Delhi court that it was not aware of the details of the national security aspects of the 2G spectrum scam as alleged by the Janata Party President, Dr Subramanian Swamy.
The CBI said its lack of awareness was because it did not have a copy of the complaint regarding the national security angle of the scam. On February 5, the court had directed the CBI to submit a report by February 22 on whether the ambit of its probe in the 2G case encompasses the national security aspects alleged by Dr Swamy.
Dr Swamy, in his complaint before the Special CBI Judge, Mr Pradeep Chaddah, is seeking the prosecution of the former Telecom Minister, Mr A. Raja, in the 2G case.
Dr Swamy claimed that the Home Ministry has held Etisalat DB a national security risk, since it has possible links with the intelligence agency of Pakistan.
He had also alleged that the shares of the 2G licence holder, Swan Telecom, were illegally sold to Etisalat DB.
BALWA LINKED TO DAWOOD
Meanwhile, Dr Swamy claimed that Mr Shahid Usman Balwa – the then ‘Director' of Swan Telecom and an accused in the 2G scam who was arrested by the CBI – illegally owns a private airstrip at Palanpur in Gujarat that he uses to travel even overseas without informing the authorities.
Dr Swamy also claimed that according to the Home Ministry's report, Mr Balwa allegedly has links with the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Dr Swamy has agreed to give a copy of his complaint with these details to the CBI.
He added that the CBI should enquire about the national security angle from the Home Ministry, the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing.
The CBI, in its status report submitted to the court, said it had registered a case in the 2G scam and carried out many searches in the Telecom Department, private companies, as well as the residences of some public servants including Mr Raja and other individuals.
It said its searches led to the recovery of many voluminous documents and added that not only many accused have been arrested and produced before the court, but also several witnesses have been examined in this regard.
Dr Swamy also told the court that though proceedings in two cases on the 2G scam, including his case, are going on in two different courts in the national capital, he has no objection in the two being clubbed together and heard by one court.
He added that on March 1, he will ask the Supreme Court for directions that both the cases be clubbed together and heard by the Special CBI Judge Mr Pradeep Chhadah since his case includes the national security aspect and therefore has larger ramification.
Mr Chhadah will take up the matter again on March 8.