Supreme Court to decided today on monitoring of 2G scam probe

The supreme court today directed investigators to examine all mobile phone spectrum allocations since 2001, saying there was prima facie evidence of wrongdoing in granting 2G spectrum licences in 2008 and dual use technology licences to some operators prior to 19 October 2007.

"We would not like to prejudice the probe. But what happened in 2001 needs to be looked into. It is for the CBI to investigate and find out."

According to analysts the judges' remarks assume importance in the context of A Raja's claim that he was following the 2001 policy.

It has asked the CBI to conduct a comprehensive investigation in co-ordination with the directorate of enforcement and the income tax department covering the period 2001-07, taking the investigations into the conduct of the role of the previous BJP-led NDA government, on the basis of which telecom minister A Raja claims to hgave allotted spectrum.

The court instructed the agencies to submit the first status report on 10 February 2011.

A bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly had on 8 December reserved its judgment on the petition filed by an NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) following a marathon hearing on the issue. CPIL wanted the CBI probe to be monitored by the apex court.