Cheat sheet on the 2002 additional spectrum allocation scam case

Following is the chronology in the 2002 additional spectrum allocation scam case in which a special 2G court on Thursday discharged former Telecom Secretary Shyamal Ghosh and three telecom companies and slammed CBI for fabricating facts.

• November 17, 2011: CBI registers FIR in the additional spectrum allocation scam case
• December 21, 2012: CBI files charge sheet against ex-Telecom Secy Shyamal Ghosh and three firms - Bharti Cellular Ltd, Hutchison Max Pvt Ltd and Sterling Cellular Ltd in the case in which DoT allegedly allocated additional spectrum resulting in loss of Rs 846 crore to the exchequer.
• February 11, 2013: Court asks CBI to file more documents in the case.
• March 8: Court pulls up CBI for not naming corporate honchos in telecom scam and for only blaming government servants.
• March 19, 2013: Court summons as accused Shyamal Ghosh, Sunil Bharti Mittal, CMD of Bharti Cellular Ltd, Essar Group Promoter Ravi Ruia, Asim Ghosh, then MD of Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd and the three firms.
• April 26, 2013: SC exempts Mittal and Ruia from personal appearance in trial court on their plea and postpones trial court proceedings till further orders.
• January 9, 2015: SC quashes trial court order summoning Mittal and Ruia as accused.
• January 28, 2015: Shyamal Ghosh moves bail application.
• February 6, 2015: Court fixes date for arguments on framing charge against Ghosh and three companies.
• March 4, 2015: Court fixes another date for arguments after CBI seeks time to file reply on pleas of Hutchison Max (P) Ltd and Sterling Cellular Ltd questioning jurisdiction of special 2G court to deal with the matter.
• July 23, 2015: Court dismisses pleas questioning its jurisdiction.
• August 17, 2015: Court commences arguments on framing of charge.
• August 31, 2015: Court reserves order on framing charges.
• September 26, 2015: Court defers order saying it is not ready.
• October 7, 2015: Court again defers order saying it is not ready.
• October 15, 2015: Court discharges Shyamal Ghosh and the three companies, says charge sheet fabricated.