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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G spectrum case | 4/9 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_case | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T14:10:45.635270+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== 2007 === May: A Raja becomes Telecom Minister. August: Allotment of 2G spectrum and Universal Access Service (UAS) licences by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) begins. 25 September: The Telecom Ministry issues a press release that its deadline for application is 1 October. 1 October: DoT receives 575 applications for UAS licences from 46 companies. 2 November: The prime minister writes to Raja, directing him to ensure the allotment of 2G spectrum in a fair and transparent manner and to ensure that the licence fee was revised. Raja rejects many of the prime minister's recommendations. 22 November: In a letter to the DoT, the Finance Ministry raises procedural concerns. Its demand for a review is rejected.
=== 2008 === 10 January: The DoT decides to issue licences on first-come, first-served basis, advancing the cut-off date from 1 October to 25 September and announcing on its website that those applying between 3.30 and 4.30 pm would be granted licences in accordance with policy. Total collection from sale of 122 licenses was about 92 billion. Swan Telecom, Unitech and Tata Teleservices sell shares at much higher prices to Etisalat, Telenor and DoCoMo, respectively.
=== 2009 === 4 May: A telecom-watchdog NGO files a complaint with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on illegalities in spectrum allocation to Loop Telecom. 19 May: Another complaint is filed with the CVC by Arun Agarwal, highlighting the low-cost spectrum grant to Swan Telecom. The CVC directs the CBI to investigate irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum. 1 July: Responding to a petition from S-Tel, the Delhi High Court rules the advancement of the cut-off date illegal. 20 October: The CBI registers a case, filing a First Information Report against unknown officers of the DoT and unknown private persons and companies under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. 22 October: The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation raids DoT offices. 16 November: The CBI investigates a wiretapped conversation by corporate lobbyist Nira Radia to learn the involvement of middlemen in the grant of spectrum to telecom companies, seeking information from the Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation about Radia and her company.
=== 2010 === 13 March: The Supreme Court upholds the Delhi High Court ruling that the cutoff-date advancement was illegal. 31 March: According to the Comptroller and Auditor General, there were large-scale irregularities in spectrum allocation. 2 April: CBI Deputy Inspector General of Investigations Vineet Agarwal and Indian Revenue Service Director General of Income Tax Investigations Milap Jain, who were investigating the case, are transferred; Jain becomes Director General of International Taxation. 6 May: Telephone conversation between Raja and Niira Radia, recorded by the Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation, made public. The Centre for Public Interest Litigation petitions the Delhi High Court for a special investigation of the case. 25 May: Petition dismissed by the court. August: Dismissal appealed to the Supreme Court. 18 August: High Court refuses to order the prime minister to rule on a request by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy to prosecute Raja. 13 September: The Supreme Court asks the government and Raja to reply within 10 days to three petitions filed by the CPIL and others alleging a ₹70,000 crore (US$7.4 billion) scam in granting telecom licences in 2008. 24 September: Swamy petitions the Supreme Court to order the PM to prosecute Raja. 27 September: The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation informs the Supreme Court of a probe of firms suspected to have violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act, saying it cannot confirm or deny Raja's involvement. 8 October: The Supreme Court asks the government to respond to the Comptroller and Auditor General report about the case. 21 October: Draft reports from the CAG are presented to the Supreme Court. 29 October: The Supreme Court criticises the CBI for its slowness in investigating the case. 10 November: The CAG submits a report on 2G spectrum to the government, stating a loss of ₹176,000 crore (US$19 billion) to the exchequer. 11 November: The DoT files a Supreme Court affidavit that the CAG lacked the authority to question the 2008 policy decision. 14 November: Raja resigns as telecom minister. 15 November: Kapil Sibal placed in charge of Telecom Ministry. 20 November: Affidavit on behalf of the PM filed in Supreme Court rejecting the charge of inaction on Swamy's complaint. 22 November: The CBI and the Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation tell the SC they will file a charge sheet within three months, and the CBI says it will investigate the role of Niira Radia. 24 November: The SC reserves verdict on Swamy's request to the PM to prosecute Raja. 25 November: The SC criticises the CBI for not questioning Raja. 29 November: The CBI files a status report on the probe. 30 November: The SC questions the Central Vigilance Commission's P. J. Thomas' fitness to supervise the CBI probe, since he was Telecom Secretary at that time. 1 December: The SC orders the original tapes of conversations by Radia. Raja questions the CAG findings. 2 December: The government supplies Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation tapes to the SC, which criticises Raja for ignoring the PM's advice to delay the spectrum allocation. 8 December: SC favours including 2001 (when first-come, first-served was the norm for spectrum allocation) in the probe period and asks the government to consider a special court. The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation reports a money trail covering 10 countries, including Mauritius. 14 December: PIL filed in SC, seeking the cancellation of new telecom licences and 2G spectrum allocated under Raja. 15 December: Swamy petitions a Delhi court for his inclusion as a public prosecutor, saying Raja favoured "ineligible" companies Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless in allocating spectrum. 16 December: The SC decides to monitor the CBI inquiry.