2G spectrum case: Tata calls Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa's allegation 'baseless'

A day after Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa, an accused in the 2G telecom spectrum scam, alleged in a special court that CBI had tried to "deflect the wrong-doings" of Tata in the case by prosecuting him along with former Telecom Minister and DMK leader A Raja, Tata Sons have called all the allegations as "baseless".

Balwa contended that the agency favoured Tata which had given Rs 20 crore as donation to Raja for building a hospital in the DMK leaser's constituency.

Balwa, who is accused along with 16 others in the case, claimed that he cannot be prosecuted for pushing back Tata as the firm was never in the race to get the 2G spectrum licence.

"The investigating officer in the case had favoured Tata and by prosecuting Balwa, he had tried to deflect the wrong doings of Tata," advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Balwa, argued before Special Judge OP Saini.

Refuting this, Tata Son's spokesperson told dna, "The allegations are completely baseless. The MLA of Perambalur had made a request in 2008 to the Tata Trusts for a grant to support some components for a medical college-cum-hospital, the proposal of which was announced in the state Assembly of Tamil Nadu. On assessing the appeal, the Trusts had imposed some conditionalities, related to the project, modalities of operations etc. Since these conditionalities were not met, the Tata Trusts did not make any grant at all"
 
Advancing final arguments in the case, the advocate said Raja had admitted in his cross-examination that he had taken Rs 20 crore donation from Tata for the hospital in his constituency. "So, Balwa cannot be prosecuted for the alleged conspiracy with Raja for pushing back Tata in the race to get licences," the counsel said, adding that "it had come on record that Nira Radia was visiting Raja's residence with Ratan Tata".

Radia, who is a prosecution witness in the case, was managing, through her company, the corporate communication of Tata Group.

"This had no connection whatsoever with Tata Teleservices application for spectrum. As for spectrum, as is well known, it was Tata which was the victim, having been denied what was due to it including spectrum for Delhi", the Tata Sons spokesperson said.

Aggarwal had further claimed that the Supreme Court had ordered CBI to find out whether Tata was eligible to get the 2G spectrum licence. "It's wrong to prosecute Balwa for pushing back Tata in the race as Tata was never in the race," the counsel said.

(With PTI inputs)