Book the guilty in 2G spectrum scam: Ratan Tata

NEW DELHI - Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has urged the Indian government to investigate and book the people who are guilty in the 2G spectrum scam.

“I wish the government would take a stand, bring an auditor in the thing, have an investigation, book people who are guilty,” said Tata in an interview to NDTV news channel.

He said the country has slipped into a series of allegations and the media furore over the leakage of recorded conversation between Nira Radia, the owner of a public relations company, and prominent corporates and politicians has created a “smokescreen”.

“We have somewhat slipped into a series of allegations, unauthorized tapes being flooded, the media going crazy on alleging, convicting, executing. There has been a smokescreen behind what is really the so-called scam which really is out of turn allocation of spectrum, hoarding of spectrum by important players for free and things of this nature,” he added.

A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in parliament Nov 16 had said the 2G spectrum allotment had caused a notional loss of several crores of rupees to the public exchequer.

According to sources, Radia has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on several issues including the possible violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and her firms’ alleged links with some of the telecom companies that were allocated 2G spectrum in 2008 by then communications minister A. Raja.