Author: J. Jerom Stuward, Government Law College, Salem
To the Point:
The 2G Spectrum Scam stands out as one of the most widely discussed corruption scandals in Indian political history, significantly undermining public trust and institutional credibility. The controversy centered around the distribution of 2G telecom licenses in 2008, under the leadership of then Telecom Minister A. Raja. The allocation process was carried out using a first-come, first-served approach, bypassing competitive auctions, and relying on outdated pricing benchmarks from 2001. This led to allegations that telecom licenses were sold at undervalued rates, resulting in substantial revenue loss to the government. According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the estimated financial damage to the national exchequer was nearly ₹1.76 lakh crore. The incident triggered political uproar, media scrutiny, and one of the most closely followed trials involving senior officials and private telecom players.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted an extensive inquiry and submitted several chargesheets, implicating senior politicians, government officials, and business leaders for offences such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, and violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The matter drew intense national attention and widespread media coverage, quickly becoming a defining example of high-level economic wrongdoing and alleged political misuse of power.
After nearly a decade of proceedings, the Special CBI Court, in 2017, delivered a verdict that acquitted all the accused, citing insufficient and unconvincing evidence. The outcome of the trial triggered widespread discussion on the standard of proof required in corruption cases and the effectiveness of investigative agencies in handling complex white-collar crime. The 2G Spectrum case continues to be regarded as a significant example of the intersection between flawed governance, judicial examination, and the systemic hurdles faced in securing convictions in large-scale financial scandals in India.
