Dayanidhi Maran a key player in 2G scam: Murli Manohar Joshi

Lucknow, Jun 3: Murli Manohar Joshi, Chairman, Public Accounts Committe (PAC) has accused Dayanidhi Maran of playing a key role in starting the 2G spectrum scam.

"Mr Maran started a big correspondence for getting the terms of references changed and separating the pricing of the spectrum. He was the one who took away the power from the group of ministers to look into the various aspects of allocation of spectrum and policy of pricing," said Joshi.

"Several documents were changed and it was accepted. All the powers that must have vested with the group of ministers were transferred to the telecom department. So, that is how the whole thing started," said Joshi, elaborating on how the scam started.

Joshi further questioned on why Maran changed the decision taken by the cabinet in the year 2003, when the cabinet declared that the telecom pricing would be done together with inputs from the Finance Ministry.

"In my opinion, if at that very moment something should have been seriously thought about, then perhaps this serious issue could have been solved. I can't say if it would have happened or not, but at least prime minister and others would have understood why is it being done, " he said.

Maran's role in the 2G spectrum scam came into light after a magazine put forth questions under the context in which he agreed to give license to Aircel in 2007.

The charges against Maran is that Aircel, which was not granted a telecom license for two years was given one, when the company changed sides with the Malaysia based Maxis. According to reports, Maran settled a trade after Maxis' sister company put in Rs 675 crore in Sun TV, which Maran's family owned.

Meanwhile, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chief has said that DoT has been asked to give all the reports during Maran's tenure and also called upon TRAI officials, ex-telecom ministers and secretaries.

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