Tata Teleservices applications received late: Mathur

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Former telecom secretary D.S. Mathur Monday told a CBI special court that applications of Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited (TTML) and Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) for dual technology were received after the receipt of new applications were stopped.

"It is correct that these two applications (TTSL and TTML) were received after the receipt of new applications were stopped on Oct 1, 2007," said Mathur before Special Judge O.P. Saini.

Testifyng as a CBI witness, Muthur said that two letters written by TTML and TTSL addresed to the secretary, DoT, for in principle approval for dual technology dated Oct 19, 2007 was received in DoT on Oct 22, 2007.

According to websites of TTSL, it is the pioneer of the CDMA technology, it was incorporated in 1996 and also has significant presence in the GSM services through its joint venture with NTT DOCOMO of Japan. Under the Brand of Tata Docomo, it is working in 18 telecom circles.

"I am not sure if these two letters were put to me or not, but the letters show that these were received in the office addressed to the secretary, DoT," replied Mathur while being cross-examined by former telecom minister A. Raja's counsel Sushil Kumar.

Mathur voluntarily stated that anybody who applies for dual technology licence has an advantage in grant of licence of spectrum because he gets spectrum as an existing licencee.

The CBI has alleged that Raja entered into a conspiracy with others and had illegally granted licences to new companies Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless.

According to the government auditor, the 2G spectrum allocation case pertained to biased distribution of mobile airwaves and operating licences, in lieu of kickbacks to telecom firms that could have cost the treasury up to Rs.1.76 lakh crore in lost revenue.

Nineteen individuals and six companies are accused in the case. Except for Raja and another accused, all other arrested accused have been released on bail.