Reliance, top telecom players under CBI scanner

Concerned over the alleged scam involving hundreds of crores in rerouting of international calls, the central bureau of investigation (CBI) has launced a probe into working of Reliance Infocomm and some other top private telecom operators.

The probe by CBI comes amid a major crackdown by department of telecom and its PSUs which have imposed stiff penalties that have been challenged by Reliance Infocomm. CBI, which has initiated the probe suo-motu, has asked the concerned authorities to furnish relevant details of international telecom traffic which is alleged to have been rerouted as local calls to avoid payment to levy to telecom PSUs, CBI officials said.

The investigating agency stumbled upon the case during its investigations in the illegal telephone exchanges busted in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh recently during the agency’s special drive on February 2.

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CBI officials said during its investigations into the functioning of illegal exchanges in the southern states, it had found involvement of certain private telecom companies and some officials of department of telecommunications. The official said the companies had been asked to provide relevent details to the economic offences wing of CBI.

The officials, however, clarified that no case has been registered against Reliance and other telecom companies.