2G scam: Reliance official identifies signature of accused

Reliance ADAG Group President AN Sethuraman Monday told a Delhi court that it "appeared" that Hari Nair, Senior Vice President of the firm and an accused in 2G spectrum scam, had certified documents accompanying applications for 15 circles for UAS licences on behalf of Swan Telecom.

"The signature appears to be of Hari Nair," Sethuraman, testifying as second prosecution witness, told Special CBI Judge OP Saini.

He identified the signatures of Nair who, in the capacity of Company Secretary of Swan Telecom, had allegedly signed its documents such as Memorandum and the Articles of Association.

Sethuraman said all the applications for Unified Access Services (UAS) Licences on behalf of Swan Telecom were signed and submitted by him (the witness) in March 2007.

"I had submitted applications for 15 circles for UAS licences on behalf of Swan Telecom in March 2007," he said.

Sethuraman said he was on the payroll of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (ADA) Group but submitted the applications for UAS licenses in the capacity as an authorised signatory of Swan Telecom.

The witness said he had informed the Department of Telecom (DoT) about the change of name from Swan Capital Pvt Ltd to Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd by a letter on March 6, 2007. The letter accompanied a certificate issued by Nair, he said.

"I have been shown one letter dated March 6, 2007, addressed to DoT, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi. The same bears my signature. Through this letter, I had intimated DoT regarding change of name of company, that is, from Swan Capital Pvt Ltd to Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd," he said.

ADAG-led Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL) has been put on trial in 2G spectrum allocation case on the ground that Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) was "just a mask" for it.