2G licence a ‘big muddle’: Essar Tele Holding to court

Essar Tele Holding Ltd (ETHL), facing trial in a case arising out of the 2G scam probe, on Monday told a special court that spectrum licence was a “big muddle” as explanation of a clause of the Unified Access Services Licences (UASL) was ambiguous.

Advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for ETHL, said the CBI’s allegation that the firm had cheated the government was wrong as the probe agency and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have taken contradictory positions regarding the explanation of clause 8 of UASL guidelines. 

“There is a doubt in the mind of DoT itself regarding the clause which shows the ambiguity about it,” he told Special CBI Judge OP Saini.

Salve also referred to the DoT’s affidavit filed before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal in response to a plea filed by Loop Telecom Ltd, seeking refund of entry fee of Rs 1,454 crore paid by it to the department in January 2008. “The affidavit filed by the DoT before TDSAT shows the stand contradictory to what the CBI has taken before the trial court. There DoT says my contract is valid. In trial court, CBI says that government has been cheated,” he said.