India's Central Bureau of Investigation has filed charges against nine people and three companies as part of the ongoing investigation into new mobile operator licences and 2G spectrum issued in 2008-9. Former telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja was charged with cheating, forgery, conspiracy, criminal misconduct and abusing an official position for his alleged role in issuing the licences at below-market prices. The CBI has already arrested Raja and five others in the case. Former telecom secretary Siddartha Behura and R.K. Chandolia, the former minister's then personal secretary, were also accused of conspiracy, cheating, criminal misconduct and abusing an official position. the Wall Street Journal reports. Three senior executives at Reliance Telecom were also named - managing director Gautam Doshi and senior vice presidents Hari Nair and Surender Pipara - for alleged abetment to crime. Reliance is accused of profiting from its stake in Swan Telecom to acquire additional spectrum; the company and directors denied the charges. Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless, the Indian arm of Telenor's Indian venture Uninor, were also named in the charges, as were directors at the two companies. Unitech and Swan, which has since been renamed Etisalat DB Telecom, have also denied the charges. The case is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, which probes violations of foreign exchange laws and money laundering, under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Two separate parliamentary panels are also probing the case. All accused in the case have been summoned to appear before the court on 13 April. The CBI said it would submit supplementary charges in the case on 25 April.
