Illegal telephone lines case: CBI files charge sheet against former Union Minister

The CBI had registered the case on July 23, 2013.

"   The Central Bureau of Investigation has today filed a charge sheet in the Court of the Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Chennai against then Union Minister of Communication & Information Techonology(MoC&IT); then two Chief General Manager (now retired ), BSNL; then Addl. PS to MOC⁢ two then officials of private channel and then Chairman & Managing Director of private channel U/s 120-B r/w 409,467 and 471 of IPC and section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) and (1) (d) of PC Act, 1988," read the CBI statement.

"CBI had registered a case on 23.07.2013 U/s 120-B r/w 409, 420 of IPC and U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of PC Act, 1988 against then Union Minister, Communication & Information Technology; then two Chief General Managers, both of Chennai Telephones and others on the allegations of installing a number of high end telecommunication facilities having PRA/BRA/ISDN/Leased Line etc. at the residence of then Union Minister of Communication & Information Technology at Chennai, illegally under service category and did not raise bills for the same during the period from 2004 to 2007 and thereby caused huge loss to the Government Exchequer," the probe agency said.

It was alleged that during the period June, 2004 to Dec., 2006, 364(approx) Telephone numbers/lines were installed at Gopalapuram, Chennai residence of the then Union Minister and during the period Dec., 2006 to Sept. 2007, 353 number (approx) of telephone lines were installed at Ist Avenue Boat Club Road, Chennai which was the new residence of then MoC&IT, the CBI said.

It was further alleged that 10 post-paid mobile connections (approx) with vanity numbers in respect of 9 numbers were given to a private Television channel as per the verbal orders of then MoC&IT and that these connections were given under “service category” and no bill was raised, the CBI said in a statement.

There was huge data transfer which included voice, video & audio through these telephone connections and all these facilities were allegedly used for the benefits of said television channel network, owned by his brother.

"It was further alleged that no payment was made for installation charges as well as for rentals of these telephone connections which included High end facilities Iike ISDN-PRA-BRA, broadband, leased circuits with OFC laying connecting both the residents thereby, causing an alleged loss to the tune of Rs.1,20,87,769/- (approx) to the BSNL, which did not include the call charges" the CBI said.

The investigation has revealed that altogether 764 telephone numbers were allegedly provided to then Minister of Communication & IT by BSNL, Chennai Telephones and MTNL, New Delhi.

"No bills were allegedly raised for all these facilities and thereby an alleged loss to the tune of Rs. 1,78,71,393/- (approximately) was caused to BSNL, Chennai and MTNL, Delhi," the CBI said in its statement.

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