2G scam: NGO moves SC against Sibal, Vahanvati

The centre for Public Interest Litigation (CIPL), an activist organisation, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the actions of telecom minister Kapil Sibal and attorney general G E Vahanvati in connection with 2G spectrum granted to Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications.

The CIPL application alleged that Sibal reduced the penalty against RCom from Rs650 crore to just Rs5 crore crore for violations in the unified access service licence (UASL) agreement.

It also alleged that Vahanvati disregarded the law ministry in giving his opinion to former telecom minister A Raja (now in jail over the scandal) on 2G spectrum when he was solicitor-general in the earlier UPA government.

''Sibal abused his position as minister to overrule the unanimous view taken by senior department of telecommunications (DoT) officials, including the telecom secretary, to benefit a private operator by closing the issue with only a penalty of Rs5 crore.

''This abuse of authority by him to benefit the Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Infocom needs a thorough investigation by the CBI,'' the application said.
 
The NGO annexed documents to buttress the allegation that DoT officials were unanimous that Reliance group should be penalised Rs50 crore per circle for ''violation of the terms and conditions of the universal service obligation fund (USOF) agreement and UASL agreement by voluntary, unilateral and unauthorised switching-off/closure of services to subscribers from USOF sites without any notice.''

On Vahanvati, the petition said he gave professional advice to Raja disregarding the cardinal principle that a senior law officer of the government should give advice or opinion only through the proper channel, which is the law ministry.