Did 2G scam threaten national security?

The Central Bureau of Investigation has begun probing if the country's internal security too stood compromised because of the the 2G spectrum allocation to ineligible telecom operators during former Telecom Minister A Raja's tenure.

CBI told special judge Pradeep Chaddah that it has begun probing the threat as per the concerns raised by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy, who had come to the court seeking a probe into scam. Swamy had also sought the court's direction to appoint him a public prosecutor to help the agency in probing the case and trying the accused.

The agency counsel said that the probe is also being monitored by the Supreme Court. The court, however, put up the matter for further hearing on March 17, as Swamy could not appear before it on Tuesday, as he was attending 2G Spectrum matter in the Supreme Court.

During the last hearing on February 22, the CBI had told the court that it was not aware of the threat posed by allocation of 2G spectrum to some telecom firms which subsequently offloaded their shares to global firms with links to Pakistan.

"The CBI is not aware of the details of the security aspect as raised by Swamy in his application as a copy of jis complaint is not available with us," an agency spokesperson told the court, adding that it had been probing the scam within the confines of the first information report registered by it.

Swamy, in his petition, had said that Swam Telecom and Unitech Wireless, which were allotted licensees, had sold their major shares to two foreign companies -- Etisalat DB and Telenor, which is 'a major threat' to national security.

"Swan and Unitech sold their controlling shares soon after the allocation, respectively to Etisalat DB and Telenor. The security risks from these companies are highlighted by the Union Home Ministry, as their connections go right into Pakistan," Swamy had alleged.

During the hearing, Swamy also sought the court's direction to CBI to ask the Union Home Ministry, Research and Analysis Wing and other intelligence agencies to find out the bearings of the scam on national security. On Swamy's plea, the court too had asked CBI to probe the same.