India telecoms corruption trial begins

India's former telecoms minister goes on trial on Friday in New Delhi accused of playing a central role in the country's biggest ever corruption scandal.

He is one of 17 defendants, including top government officials and senior business executives in the dock over alleged bribery in the sale of 2G mobile phone licenses in 2008.

The affair has rocked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's administration, and severely dented confidence in one of the world's fastest growing telecoms markets.

Supriya Menon reports.