It’s a whopper of a scandal – even by Indian standards. Between US $8 billion and US$20 billion is believed to have been “pinched from the public purse” over the past four or so years by fraudulent telecoms companies. As a result, earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered cancellation of all 122 licenses previously granted to eight major firms. One of these is Uninor, partnered by Norway’s third biggest mobile phone giant, Telenor. The Norwegian firm is now in a major spat with Uninor, seeking massive compensation for the collapse of the joint venture. And Telenor is also reportedly looking for a new Indian partner. So who, then, may be first in line as a putative victor over the coming spoils? That’s none other than Vedanta Resources plc’s majority-owned Indian subsidiary, Sterlite Industries, according to one inside source.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11500.