New Delhi: A special court here on Thursday dropped charges against ex- telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh and three companies in the 2002 additional spectrum allocation case.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge OP Saini discharged Ghosh and three telecom firms – Bharti Cellular Ltd, Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd (Vodafone India Ltd) and Sterling Cellular Ltd (Vodafone Mobile Service Ltd).

The case relates to the department of telecommunications allocating additional spectrum in a decision taken on January 31, 2002, when the National Democratic Alliance was in power, allegedly resulting in a loss of Rs 846 crore to the exchequer.

The CBI filed a chargesheet on December 21, 2012, against Ghosh and the three telecom firms.

(IANS)