2G Scam: PAC questions Anil and DB Etisalat CEO

The grilling of business tycoons in the 2G spectrum scam case by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) continued on Tuesday. A day after Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Nira Radia had appeared before the PAC, it was the time for Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) Chairman Anil Ambani and DB Etisalat CEO Atul Jhamb to be questioned by the Bharatiya Janata Party MP Murli Manohar Joshi-led parliamentary panel.

Jhamb was questioned about the links with former telecom minister A Raja, who has already been arrested in the 2G spectrum scam case, and Kaliagnar TV. Sources have told CNN-IBN that the PAC feels that there is enough evidence to nail DB Realty in the 2G scam case.

Sources also said that the questions to DB officials were focused on murky loans. Jhamb and Swan Telecom promoter Vinod Goenka were grilled on why DB Realty extended indirect loans to Kalaignar TV. DB Etisalat's relations with Cineyug and Bollwyood producers - the Morani brothers - were also questioned.

Sources further added the DB Etisalat officials were also quizzed on their timing of entry into the telecom sector, and the acquisition of Swan from Reliance ADAG. The company officials told the PAC that Shahid Usman Balwa, who is in CBI custody in connection with the 2G scam, was a partner.

Ambani, also a former Rajya Sabha member, reached Parliament premises around noon when the PAC was questioning Jhamb.

The members asked Ambani to join them just after 1:00 PM and discussions with him continued for nearly two hours. He was asked questions on issues related to the 2G spectrum allocation as also 3G auction that was held in 2010.

Joshi later said that Anil Ambani was questioned on his links with Swan as well as on the dual technology issue.

He was questioned on both CAG report as well as CBI chargesheet. While he gave answers to most questions on a number of occasions he said he could not answer a question as either the matter was subjudice or because he had to look at relevant papers.

He is understood to have justified the 'first come, first served' policy in the allocation of 2G spectrum and favoured the auction route for 3G spectrum allocation.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged three top officials of the ADAG with abetment to cheating, criminal conspiracy, bribery and forgery.

Unitech's Managing Director Sanjay Chandra will also be questioned by the panel later on Tuesday.

Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Nira Radia had appeared before the PAC on Monday.

PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi later told the media that while Tata was candid, Radia was evasive while replying to the questions.

The PAC is examining the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on losses to the exchequer on account of the alleged 2G spectrum scam.