2G: Niira Radia deposes in court, says STPL was "not eligible"

New Delhi, May 28: Appearing in the court for the first time, former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia today said she felt that Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd "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 Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (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.

During her examination-in-chief by the CBI prosecutor, she told the court that at the time of grant of licences, dossiers were in circulation which said Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd belonged to Reliance Communications.

"At that time, there were dossiers in circulation that the company (Swan Telecom) belonged to Reliance Communications, though I do not have any authentic or personal knowledge," she said.

Radia said her public relations company was advising Tatas on telecom matters and Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) had applied for dual technology licences in 2007.

PTI