Spectrum: CBI says ex-Telecom secy Ghosh caused loss to state

Commencing arguments on framing of charges, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Anand Grover argued that Ghosh entered into a conspiracy along with then Telecom Minister Pramod Mahajan, unknown persons of the ministry and telecom firms.

Grover contended before Special CBI Judge O P Saini that telecom companies -- Hutchison Max (P) Ltd, M/s Sterling Cellular Ltd and Bharti Cellular Ltd -- who are also accused in the case, were involved in the conspiracy in getting the additional spectrum.

“This spectrum was reserved for defence forces. Shyamal Ghosh gave it at throwaway prices and caused huge loss to the exchequer. He acted against the principles of policy,” the prosecutor argued.

Arguing that an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act was made out against Ghosh, the prosecutor alleged that the allocation of additional spectrum was “gratification” here and after he retired in May 2002, he was rewarded with a lucrative post for three years which was “specially created for him”.

“After he (Ghosh) had retired, a special post was created for him for three years. It was done very quickly and signed by the authorities. In <g data-gr-id="52">ordinary</g> course, it is not done. It is illegal on the face of it.

“But he gets it as a reward in return of what he has done in the conspiracy with Telecom Minister and other accused,” he alleged.

Ghosh was the Telecom Secretary between February 7, <g data-gr-id="46">2000</g> and May 31, 2002. Post-retirement, Ghosh became <g data-gr-id="45">administrator</g>, Universal Service Obligation Fund under DoT till May 2005.

Regarding the cellular operators, Grover claimed they had “engineered” the conspiracy with Ghosh. During the day, the court also began hearing the arguments of Ghosh’s counsel who said there was no <g data-gr-id="38">malafide</g> intention on his behalf and nothing illegal was done by him.

The prosecutor, while concluding his arguments, also claimed that there was no need to give additional spectrum to the telecom companies and it was a part of the conspiracy.

Former Telecom Secretary Shyamal Ghosh and telecom firms Hutchison Max (P) Ltd, Sterling Cellular Ltd and Bharti Cellular Ltd, were <g data-gr-id="39">chargesheeted</g> by CBI in the case relating to Department of Telecommunications allocating additional spectrum that had allegedly resulted in a loss of Rs 846 crore to exchequer.

CBI, in its charge sheet, had said Ghosh “deliberately” and with “<g data-gr-id="40">malafide</g> intention” did not obtain comments of then Member (Finance) of DoT despite the issue involving huge “financial implications”.