New Delhi: Appearing in the court for the first time, former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia on Tuesday said she felt that Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) “was not eligible” to get the 2G Spectrum licences as it was said to belong to Reliance ADAG group company Reliance Communications.
Testifying as a prosecution witness in CBI court in the case, she said that during the time of grant of spectrum, there was a very strong public perception that STPL was not eligible.
STPL’s promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka are facing trial in the case.
“During the time of grant of spectrum, there was a very strong public perception created by the media of eligibility and non-eligibility. Through the public perception and advice of Tata advocates, I came to know that this company (Swan Telecom) was not eligible,” Radia told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.
CBI seeks to place in court CD of Radia’s conversations : Meanwhile, CBI on Tuesday moved a Delhi Court seeking permission to place on record a CD of 62 intercepted telephonic conversations of Niira Radia with various persons in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation case.
Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit said out of the 62 taped conversations, the agency has already submitted the transcripts of 12 conversations and sought special CBI court’s permission to place on record the transcripts of rest of the 50 conversations.
He also said the transcripts related to conversation between Radia and other individuals and the calls were intercepted by the Income Tax Department.
CBI’s application was opposed by the counsel, appearing for accused, saying the transcripts cannot be taken on record at this stage saying that the prosecution cannot be allowed at this stage to fill their lacunae by placing on record these transcripts. (PTI)