Raja's close aide Batcha's suicide note found

A close aide of jailed former telecom minister A Raja, Sadiq Batcha was on Wednesday found dead in his Chennai home. Though the police and his family suspect suicide, foulplay is not being ruled out in the case.Batcha's suicide note was found by the police on Wednesday evening. In the note, Batcha says he was embarrassed by CBI raids and has blamed no one for his action. Batcha incidentally was booked on a flight to Delhi on Wednesday to appear before the CBI for questioning.
A saree seller turned right hand man of union minister A Raja, 37-year-old Sadiq Batcha's end came as suddenly as his rise from rags to riches.
Batcha's body was found hanging from the ceiling of his Chennai residence on Wednesday afternoon. When all attempts to revive him failed, Batcha's family rushed him to Apollo hospital but the doctors declared him 'brought dead'.
"At 1.20 pm he was found hanging in his room by his wife Banu who rushed him to the Apollo Hospital where we was declared brought dead. We are yet to commence investigations. His wife is yet to lodge a formal complaint. Once she does we will start our investigations. We haven't searched the house yet. The house is locked and we have kept it guarded," said Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran.
Batcha's family members say he went to his room at around 9 am on Wednesday and they thought he had gone for a bath. But when he did not come out of his room, they went inside and found him hanging. When all attempts to revive him failed they then took him to hospital where he was declared 'brought dead on arrival'.
Batcha was the managing director of Green House promoters - one of the companies which CBI believes was a front for A Raja - where possibly the bribe money from 2G licenses was routed. Batcha was last questioned in this regard by the CBI on February 24, two months after his premises was raided.
Batcha's wife has lodged a police complaint alleging that he was under mental pressure because of 2G investigations.
The Chennai police has sent the body for post mortem to know the exact circumstances of Batcha's death. But questions are being raised whether Batcha's death was suicide or there was foul play.
However, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, who is a petitioner in the 2G case, expressed doubts over Batcha committing suicide.
"Murder and suicide will be a part of this case as lots of big people are involved. Their money, career and reputation is at stake. Sadiq was not a weak heart. He was a hard boiled character. I want to be doubly sure on whether it is a suicide or not," said Swamy.
Swamy added, "Right at the outset, I knew that with so many important people involved, anyone who has any information or is willing to help would be putting his life in danger. In my opinion, the 2G scam is such a big mess, it won't be surprising if there are more murders."
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had questioned him in connection with 2G spectrum scam on February 24. Raja's wife MA Parameshwari was a director in Green House Promoters. Batcha could have provided investigating agencies with vital clues linking Raja to the scam.
Batcha was likely to be questioned by the CBI again in the case and was reportedly coming to Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.
However, CBI officials say that Batcha's death would not hamper investigation as he was just a suspect but not a key player.
Investigators suspected that Batcha floated Green House Promoters to bring in the bribe money. Batcha hailed from Raja's hometown of Peramballur and. His Chennai-based offices and residence has been raided by the CBI on December 15, 2010 in connection with the 2G scam.
While Raja's wife resigned in June 2008 but his other close relatives, RP Parameshkumar (Raja's nephew) and A Kaliyaprumal (Raja's brother) continue to be on the directors list.
Green House was setup in August 2004, just a few weeks after Raja became environment minister in UPA-1.
In 2007, as Raja became the telecom minister, Green House opened its branch in Singapore. The CBI was investigating whether Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Reserve Bank of India guidelines were followed for setting up the foreign arm and subsequent money transfers between the company and its Singapore arm.
Investigating agencies were also looking into how a company that was formed with a capital of Rs 1 lakh in 2004 soared to revenues of over Rs 600 crore in just five years.
Even as Chennai police investigates how Batcha died, the CBI has assured that his death will not hamper investigations in the 2G case. CBI says all evidence related to Batcha were collected and recorded but real extent of damage done will only be known on March 31 when the chargesheet in the 2G case is filed.

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Tata slams RCom as dual tech fracas hots up

Tata Teleservices said on Monday that it is unfair and incorrect to compare the company with dual technology operators like RCom and others as they had applied and got the approval even before the policy came into effect.
TTSL's statement came in response to RCom's claim that it had to wait since February 2006 for more than 18 months to get the dual technology (GSM and CDMA) licence.
RCom had said on Sunday that its application was "on identical terms and payment of identical fees as the three other companies -- Ratan Tata group's Tata Teleservices,
Himachal Futuristic Communications and Shyam Telecom (now known as Sistema) -- and there is nothing special or untoward in the same."
TTSL, however, said that it "was the only operator, amongst those named above, to apply for Dual-Technology Licence after the October 19, 2007 announcement by the DoT and it is hence unfair and incorrect to compare TTSL with the other applicants, who had applied before the policy was announced."
"It is indeed special and intriguing that RCom and two other operators applied and got DoT approval even before the policy was announced," it added.
 
TTSL said that while RCom was allotted spectrum in all the circles immediately in January 2008, TTSL got DoT approval after 83 days.
"TTSL, even after three years, is still awaiting spectrum allocation in the crucial Delhi Circle and in 39 commercially crucial districts in 9 telecom circles," it said.
The grant of dual technology approval to RCom in October, 2007, has been upheld by the Delhi high court by a judgement in August, 2008, and by the Telecom Tribunal, TDSAT, by an order in March, 2009.
The CAG had pointed out that the DoT favoured RCom in jumping the queue for grant of GSM spectrum ahead of others.
Over the past several weeks, as part of investigations pursuant to the Supreme Court's orders, the CBI is reportedly examining a large number of telecom firms and their officials, from across the entire telecom industry in relation to various matters from 2001 to 2008.
TTSL also clarified that the company and the Tata Group were not family-owned or family-run concerns or owned by Ratan Tata.
"Hence, to refer to them as 'Shri Ratan Tata group's Tata Teleservices Limited' is not appropriate," it added.
 
SC moved against TDSAT order on spectrum charges
Tata group firms- Tata Tele Services and Tata Tele Services Maharastra - on Monday challenged the hike in spectrum usage charge in the Supreme Court.
The two companies challenged the order of the sectoral tribunal TDSAT, which has declined to stay DoT's hike in the spectrum charge.
Admitting the plea, a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice S H Kapadia directed the two firms to deposit 50 per cent of the increased spectrum usage charge demanded by the DoT and to submit a bank guarantee for the rest within a week.
The apex court also issued notice to the DoT and directed it to file a reply.
Besides, the bench directed to tag Tata group firms' appeal with the other telecom operators -- RCom, R Tel, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Bharti Hexacom (operating in Rajasthan), Idea Cellular and Uninor.
 
The operators are challenging DoT's decision to increase the usage charges 3-8 per cent of adjusted gross revenue, depending on quantum of spectrum held by an operator.
Earlier, on January 31, the apex court had directed two Anil Ambani group firms Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom to deposit 50 per cent of the increased spectrum usage charge demanded by DoT and to submit a bank guarantee for the rest within two weeks.
The DoT had asked the two ADAG group firms to deposit Rs 94 crore (Rs 940 million) for the spectrum charges as per the new rules.
On October 22, the Supreme Court had stayed the TDSAT order upholding a hike in 2G telecom spectrum usage charges, but had asked Bharti, Vodafone and Idea to deposit with it 50 per cent of the proposed increase in fee with the court's registry.
 
Uninor told to pay Rs 3.8 crore penalty
The telecom tribunal TDSAT on Monday directed Uninor to pay Rs 3.8 crore (Rs 38 million) to the government as penalty for delay in rolling out services in Mumbai circle, as per its license conditions.
Passing an interim order, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) directed Uninor to pay Rs 3.8 crore, 60 per cent of the penalty imposed by the Department of Telecom, in Mumbai circle.
TDSAT's direction came over a petition filed by Uninor challenging Rs 6.35 crore (Rs 63.5 million) penalty imposed by the DoT on it for not complying with the roll-out obligations.
The DoT on February 1, has issued notice to Uninor directing it to pay the sum penalty within 15 days for failing to roll-out services within stipulated period.
TDSAT's bench headed by its chairman Justice S B Sinha also issued notice to DoT, directing it to file its reply within two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on March 22, 2011.
 
Monday's tribunal order was based on an earlier order passed by it directing Uninor to pay 60 per cent of the penalty imposed on it, as an interim measure.
In January, TDSAT had directed Uninor, to pay 60 per cent of the penalty demanded by DoT in 15 circles for failing to roll-out services within the stipulated time.
It has already paid penalty for four circles under protest.
Out of 22 circles alloted to Uninor, the DoT has imposed 60 per cent penalty on it for delay in rolling out services in twenty circles.
Uninor is a joint venture between reality firm Unitech and telecom firm Telenor of Norway.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued notice to Uninor seeking Liquidated Damages (LD) for not rolling out its network in 20 circles within stipulated period of one year.
Uninor is one of the new operators which was allotted 2G spectrum, or radio waves, by former telecom minister A Raja and is under scanner on eligibility criteria.
DoT had sent notices to several firms which got new 2G licenses bundled with start up spectrum but have not begun offering services in various circles.
As per the conditions of the Unified Access Service License (UASL), the telcos are required to roll-out their networks within one year from the date of allocation of spectrum.
According to the agreement, in case new licencees fail to roll-out services within the stipulated period, DoT shall be entitled to recover LD charges.

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2G scam, black money cases in apex court this week

New Delhi: Cases related to the 2G spectrum allocation scam and black money stashed by Indian citizens in foreign banks in tax heavens are likely to be closely-followed in the Supreme Court in the week ahead.
The on-going hearing on a plea against appointment of Central Vigilance Commissioner P.J. Thomas and a case related to Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh's tapes would also figure prominently.

On Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will submit its first status report on its investigations into the 2G spectrum scam. The CBI investigation is being monitored by the apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly.
Telecom officials tried to delay 2G spectrum probe: Ex-CVC

The court Dec 16, 2010 said that there was prima facie evidence pointing to acts of wrongdoing in the grant of second generation (2G) licences and grant of dual use technology prior to Oct 19, 2007 - much before the licences were officially allocated in 2008.

The court had asked the investigating agency to submit its first status report in the case Feb 10.

On Friday, the bench of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy and Justice S.S. Nijjar is likely to hear the petition by eminent jurist Ram Jethamalani seeking direction to the Central government to take steps to bring back the black money stashed away by Indian nationals in foreign banks based in tax havens.

On Monday, the apex court would take forward the hearing on the petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) challenging Thomas' appointment.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar, during the last hearing, asked the central government whether Thomas could have been given a clean chit (by the then CVC) ignoring a pending chargesheet against him in Kerala's palm oil import case of the 1990s.

'Can the CVC say that let there be a high court judgment or observations, a pending charge sheet, sanction of prosecution (of Thomas) by the Kerala government, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and that of the committee on public undertakings (of the state assembly) (but) I am not agreeing and (will) give a clean chit,' the court asked.

'When Thomas is made an accused (in the palm oil import case), then there is an application of mind by the (trial) court and the CVC can't say that the application of mind (by the court) is of no consequence,' the court observed.

Earlier, the government told the court that there were 'no guidelines or rules' to prepare a panel of candidates before the selection of a CVC.

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal appearing for Thomas will resume his arguments.

On Wednesday, the bench of Justice Singhvi and Justice Ganguly will hold further hearing on an application by the CPIL seeking a direction to make public the tapes of the intercepts of Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh's telephones.

It is alleged that Amar Singh's phones were illegally tapped.

The CPIL contended that everything that exposed the attempts to influence and manipulate the decision making process of the government should be made public.

In the last hearing, the court pulled up the government, Delhi Police, a telecom operator and the MP for filing 'very casual and vague' affidavits and asked them to file these afresh in the former Samajwadi Party leader's phone tapping case.
Black money: More officials to get involved in crackdown

The bench of Justice Singhvi and Justice Ganguly said: 'It is a very serious issue and all the affidavits have been filed in a very casual manner.'

The court asked Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to file a status report on a case in trial court relating to criminal conspiracy in tapping Amar Singh's phone.

The court by its 2006 order stayed the publication of the Amar Singh's tapes.

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