New Delhi, July 12: Abu Dhabi-based mobile operator Etisalat today termed as “baseless” the accusations made by DB group, its Indian joint venture partner.

Late last evening, the DB group moved the Mumbai bench of the Company Law Board against Etisalat, accusing it of operational mismanagement and delay in rolling out services. The complaint was filed by DB group promoter firm Majestic Infracon.

Etisalat holds 44.73 per cent in Etisalat DB Telecom, while 45.73 per cent is owned by Majestic Infracon, controlled by Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, directors of the DB group. Both Balwa and Goenka are in jail after being accused of paying bribes to get spectrum and 2G licences in 2008, when the firm was called Swan Telecom.

“This is a cynical tactical move by parties charged with major corruption offences to shift attention away from their own situation and to disrupt the proper running of Etisalat DB to the detriment of its shareholders and customers,” Etisalat said today.

It said it was investigating the circumstance under which Balwa persuaded it to invest in Swan (now Etisalat DB) — as a third party foreign investor, brought in after Balwa and Swan had obtained the licences — and also his stewardship of the firm and its assets.