New Delhi: Former Telecom Minister A Raja Wednesday denied in a Delhi court the suggestion of CBI that he had granted 2G spectrum licences to Unitech group of companies and Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) despite knowing that they were "ineligible" to get the radio waves.
"It is wrong to suggest that I issued LoIs (letters of intent), granted UAS (unified access service) licences and allocated spectrum to STPL and Unitech group of companies, despite knowing them to be ineligible," Raja told Special CBI Judge O P Saini while being cross-examined by CBI prosecutor.
Raja, deposing as a witness to defend himself in the ongoing 2G spectrum allocation case trial, also denied the suggestions of CBI prosecutor that he had abused his official position to favour Unitech group of companies and STPL.
"It is wrong to suggest that I was in criminal conspiracy with any of the co-accused. It is wrong to suggest that I and other accused, in pursuance to a criminal conspiracy, acted in a designed manner.
"It is wrong to suggest that I abused my official position as MOC&IT. It is wrong to suggest that I created condition in which STPL and Unitech group of companies may get priority in getting UASL and spectrum vis-a-vis those who were ahead in queue to them," he said.
Besides Raja, promoters of STPL-- Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and others are facing trial in the case. Unitech Wireless(Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd and STPL are also accused in the case.
During the recording of statement, Raja also denied CBI's suggestion that he had taken decisions in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in an arbitrary and non-transparent manner.
"It is wrong to suggest that I damaged the reputation of DoT due to my actions. It is wrong to suggest that allegations /charges against me are correct," Raja, whose recording of statement remained inconclusive, said.
Raja also denied the suggestions of CBI prosecutor that he had committed forgery pertaining to any document of DoT and used the same as genuine.
CBI, in its charge sheet, had alleged that STPL and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd were ineligible for getting 2G licences.
Raja is facing trial in the case along with former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura, DMK MP Kanimozhi, Raja's former private secretary R K Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra, Reliance ADAG executives Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair.
Besides them, Bollywood producer Karim Morani, Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar and Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, are also facing trial in the case.
Besides these 14 accused, three telecom firms Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, Reliance Telecom Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd are also accused in the case.
The court had on October 22, 2011 framed charges against them under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, faking documents, abusing official position, criminal misconduct by public servant and taking bribe.
