2G: Charges to be framed against Essar, Loop today

New Delhi: A Delhi Court will pronounce its order on Friday on farming of charges against Essar group and Loop Telecom promoters for allegedly committing offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy for obtaining the 2G spectrum licences from government.

"Put up for order on May 25. All the five accused person shall remain present in the court in person (on May 25)," Special CBI Judge OP Saini said after the CBI concluded its arguments on framing of charges on May 11.

The five persons who face the CBI charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy in the case are Essar group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia and Loop Telecom promoters I P Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan, besides Essar group Director (Strategy and Planning) Vikash Saraf as accused in the case.

The CBI has accused Essar group and Loop Telecom promoters of cheating and criminal conspiracy.

Besides the five, the CBI has also named in its charge sheet, filed on December 12, three companies, Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Teleholdings Ltd also as accused in the case.

Advancing arguments on framing of charges, CBI counsel A K Singh said Loop Telecom played "hide and seek" with the Department of Telecom (DoT) and concealed information from it regarding their relationship with Essar Group.

Referring to the conduct of Loop Telecom, he said, "first the company had not filed the clause 8 (of the Unified Access Services Licences guidelines) certificate which was mandatory to be submitted at the time of filing of the application (for spectrum) and secondly, when it gave the certificate on the asking of DoT, it submitted the same with incomplete information."

He said this shows that Loop Telecom was "concealing vital information about its relation with Essar group which is the subject matter of the case."

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