Additional allocation of spectrum during Mahajan being probed

Highly-placed sources in the CBI today said the probe was going on in this matter as part of the preliminary enquiry registered by the agency to look into allocation of spectrum to companies between 2001-07. Mahajan was Telecom Minister between 2001 and 2003.

The Department of Telecom is alleged have increased the base spectrum for telecom companies from 4.4 MhZ to 6.2 MhZ during his tenure and also allocated extra spectrum on subscriber-based criteria, the sources said.

While maintaining that no FIR had been registered, the sources said a final view on filing a case would be taken after examining some more officials, including DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran, who had to resign recently as Textile Minister following allegations of corruption during his tenure as Telecom Minister.

Asked whether the CBI was going soft on Maran, a senior CBI official said "there is no question of going soft on Maran".

The CBI has examined some of the former Telecom Secretaries and wireless advisers during that tenure, the sources said.