India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is reportedly broadening its 2G corruption inquiry to examine how DTH broadcasters came to acquire their licences. CBI investigators are reviewing the original spectrum and licence application files for Dish…
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is reportedly broadening its 2G corruption inquiry to examine how DTH broadcasters came to acquire their licences.
CBI investigators are reviewing the original spectrum and licence application files for Dish TV India, Reliance Big TV, Bharti Multimedia, Bharti Business Channel, Doordarshan, SunDirect TV, and Tata Sky, according to reports citing local news agency the Press Trust of India (PTI).
The CBI did not respond to requests for comment.
However, one India-based lawyer described the move as the next logical step for investigators looking into the country’s 2G scandal, which is pinned on allegations that underpriced spectrum was allocated to some telecoms operators in 2008.
The CBI is already said to be investigating former telecoms minister Dayanidhi Maran in connection with allegations that he forced mobile operator Aircel to sell itself at a discounted rate to Malaysia-based mobile network operator Maxis, in return for increased investment in telco Sun TV, whose DTH platform is SunDirect TV, the source explained. The rationale for this appears to be that Sun TV is owned by Kalanithi Maran, the brother of Dayanidhi Maran.
In addition, some of the telecoms operators that are reportedly already under investigation in connection with the 2G scam also have DTH subsidiaries, such as Reliance Communications. Telcos Bharti Airtel and Tata Communications, which both have respective DTH platforms, have not been implicated in the 2G scandal. Meanwhile, public broadcaster Doordarshan and Dish TV do not hold telecoms subsidiaries.
Reports citing the PTI also suggest the CBI is investigating whether a bribe was received by a south India-based TV channel. MK Kanimozhi, an MP for the South Indian Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, reportedly placed Kalaignar TV in the Tata Sky DTH bouquet in a conspiracy with A Raja, another former telecoms minister, who was arrested last February after being charged for cheating.
Meanwhile, the Indian government is continuing to push ahead with a new telecoms policy, which is being designed to clear up loop holes that allowed the long-running scandal to have rocked the country to happen.
