ED seeks help from missions abroad

Intelligence officials posted at the Indian missions in London,Moscow,Brussels,Singapore and Dubai have been asked to assist investigations in the 2G licence scam. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) which has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case last month sought the assistance of foreign sources to check the antecedents and holdings of foreign firms which bought stake in Indian companies that were allotted spectrum.The move to involve the missions is being seen as a precursor to the ED sending Letters Rogatory (LR) to some of the 12 tax havens where these companies are believed to have links. The LRs will likely be sent if mission officials red flag any dubious financial transaction involving any of the firms.The London High Commission has been given details of companies registered in Norway,and in the tax havens of Isle of Man,British Virgin Islands and Jersey. The Brussels mission will look for footprints in Cyprus. Intelligence officials in Dubai have been asked for inputs on companies registered in Libya and Mauritius.Officials said they were hopeful of getting some hard information so that the LRs,if subsequently despatched,could contain pointed questions and details of transactions and holdings.Unitech Wireless Ltd (renamed Uninor),Loop Telecom and Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB Telecom) are some of the companies under the EDs scanner.The ED has already questioned Delhi-based officials of these companies,and received from them documents on the allocation of licences,and holdings of Indian entities.The Directorate has questioned corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and former telecom minister A Rajas aide R K Chandolia. It assisted the Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday in searches at 34 locations,including at homes and offices of some alleged hawala dealers.