CBI contests Loop Telecom's plea for settlement in Lok Adalat

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday vehemently contested a plea by Loop Telecom Limited for a settlement of the latter’s dispute  with Department of Telecom (DoT) in Lok Adalat.

CBI pleaded with the special court hearing the 2G scam case, not to pass such an order as it would be “illegal”.

To buttress his argument, public prosecutor K K Goel drew attention of special CBI judge O P Saini to a Supreme Court directive, stressing that it “categorically” stated that all the cases related to the 2G scam will only be heard by the special CBI court, set up for the purpose. "Why they (accused) are not going to Supreme Court on this issue? Why do they want this court to commit a mistake or pass an illegal order?" the senior public prosecutor questioned. He sought that the special CBI judge dismiss Loop Telecom petition.

Noting that a similar petition filed by the company had been dismissed in March last year, the senior public prosecutor of the CBI also contended that the special court could not review its own order. Loop Telecom is one of the accused in a case, which arose out of the 2G spectrum allocation scam probe. The firm is facing trial along with two other companies—Loop Mobile India Limited and Essar Tele Holding Limited. Promoters of Essar Group, Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Essar Group director Vikash Saraf, Loop promoters Kiran Khaitan and her husband I P Khaitan are also accused in the case.

Submitting a chargesheet against them in the special court on December 12, 2011, the CBI accused them of cheating DoT by using Loop Telecom as a "front" company to secure 2G licences in 2008. The CBI claimed that this came to light during investigation of the 2G scam in which former telecom minister A Raja and others are accused.