2G case: Court order on CBI plea to call Anil Ambani as witness on July 19

PTI Updated - March 12, 2018 at 09:39 PM.

A Delhi court today reserved for July 19 its order on CBI’s plea seeking to summon Reliance ADA Group Chairman Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani and others as prosecution witnesses in the 2G spectrum case.

“Arguments heard. Put up for order on July 19,” Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini said after hearing arguments from CBI as well as the defence counsel on the plea.

During the hearing today, special public prosecutor U.U. Lalit said that Anil Ambani would be the person who would be able to “throw light” on the matter relating to alleged investment of over Rs 990 crore in Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, facing trial in the case, by Reliance ADA Group companies and other issues.

“Perhaps he (Anil Ambani) was not part of the decision making meeting but he was aware and according to me this is sufficient. Rs 992 crore was invested. He (Anil Ambani) was aware of the development. He would be the person who would be able to throw light on the matter,” Lalit alleged.

He also told the court that as far as the meetings are concerned, Tina Ambani had presided over the relevant meetings.

Opposing the CBI’s plea, advocate Sidharth Aggarwal, appearing for three top executives of Reliance ADAG facing trial in the case, said that the delay on the part of the agency to move this application shows that it is not genuine.

“The fact that this application has come out at the fag end of the trial shows this is not necessary or important,” he said.

CBI, in its plea, had said Anil Ambani’s testimony is required to know about the “decision to apply for UAS licences on behalf of Swan Telecom, pursuing the process of applications with DoT, transfer of Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd to the DB Group in October 2007.”

Regarding Tina Ambani, CBI had said she was occupying an “important position” in Reliance ADA Group and was “authorised to transact on behalf of Tiger Traders Pvt Ltd and Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd without any limit on value.”

Published on July 17, 2013 06:30