2G scam: Etisalat official's plea disallowed

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Delhi High Court on Monday disallowed a plea for speedy disposal of a petition filed by an official of a telecom company, facing probe in the 2G spectrum scam.

India Director of Etisalat DB Telecom Shahid Usman Balwa moved the court for directions to restrain the central government from making any allegation linking him with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Balwa said that due to the allegations he has been facing "huge embarrassment in social and business circles".

Justice S. Muralidhar rejected Balwa's application requesting the court to take up his case as early as possible. The case is fixed for March 7.

The UAE-based Etisalat DB Telecom company, earlier known as Swan Telecom, is facing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate probes in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Balwa claimed that the anti-terror squad of Mumbai Police and the Intelligence Bureau have found nothing against him even after an investigation. The central government has failed to file any affidavit so far, he said.

"In view of the newspapers reporting false and incorrect allegations made against me, I am facing embarrassment in social and business circle... As a result of wrongful and defamatory allegations, grave prejudice and loss is being caused to me," Balwa said in the application.

He said due to the allegations some banks cancelled loans sanctioned to his company and withdrew the credit facility sanctioned to companies promoted by him.

It has been alleged that after getting telecom licence and spectrum at Rs.1,530 crore, Swan Telecom sold its 45 percent stake in Etisalat at a whopping Rs.4,500 crore.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) rejected the proposal of Etisalat for further investment of Rs.380 crore in India following objections by the home ministry.

The ministry informed the FIPB that Etisalat DB could not be granted security clearance on four grounds, including its presence in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Following this, Balwa moved the court which has sought a response from the ministry.