2G scam: CBI registers WiMax case, conducts searches
Nine teams of CBI officials searched the residences of BSNL officials and the officials of Starnet, the alleged beneficiary which got the franchise,in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Gurgaon.
Premises of former BSNL chairman, three top officials, and a company believed to be close to former Telecom Minister A Raja, were on Saturday searched by the CBI in connection with the alleged scam of Rs535 crore in award of contracts for WiMax services.The agency has registered a case against the then Chairman-cum-Managing Director of BSNL Kuldeep Goyal, Director Consumer Mobility RK Agarwal, the then General Manager Pradeep Narang and then DGM Strategic Planning Anil Kumar besides two private companies, CBI sources said.Nine teams of agency officials carried out searches in Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Chennai and Kolkata, they said.The officials allegedly abused their position and facilitated award of Leased Service Area (LSA) contract for development of WiMax services to Starnet Communications in 2009, considered to have close links with Raja, even though it did not fulfil eligibility criteria, they said.The eligibility conditions stipulated that the company should have a turnover of Rs100 crore."It is alleged that the said company did not have the required qualification of Rs100 crore annual turnover for the last two years," CBI said in a statement.There was an estimated wrongful loss of Rs535.50 crore to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, the agency said.The agency has booked Directors of Starnet Communication Rajesh Bhatt and S Manoharan in connection with the case and carried out searches at their offices in Kolkata and Chennai Another company Wellcom Communications was also searched during the operation, sources said.