2G Scam: Reliance Telecom moves SC against order making Anil Ambani, Tina witnesses

Reliance Telecom has approached the Supreme Court against the order of 2G trial court asking ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tinato appear as prosecution witnesses in the spectrum scam allocation case.

“As legally advised, Reliance Telecom Ltd. has filed an SLP before the Hon’ble Supreme Court challenging the order of the Special Court, allowing the CBI application to call new witnesses at this late stage of the trial,” aspokesperson for Reliance Telecom said.

The matter is slated to be heard on Wednesday.

Anil Ambani and his wife are to be summoned as prosecution witnesses in the 2G scam after a special court had on Friday accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) petition to summon the duo and 11 others in the case.

The CBI in its plea had said thatthe Reliance ADA Group Chairman’s testimony is needed to explain why Reliance invested over Rs 900 crore in Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, facing trial in the case along with its promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka.

[caption id=“attachment_975121” align=“alignright” width=“380”] Anil Ambani. Reuters[/caption]

“I find that examination of these witnesses is necessary for just decision of the case,” Special CBI Judge OP Saini had said and added, “The application is allowed in total and all 13 are summoned.”

Anil Ambani had been questioned once in 2011 before the plea was filed by the CBI. Witnesses will start to testify in the case from July 22 but the date when Anil will be called in not yet clear.

However, if Anil’s statement is clear then Tina will not be required to depose in the case, the CBI had said.

The agency had contended Anil Ambani, who is the Chairman of Reliance ADA Group, will be able to “throw light” on the issues of the alleged investment by his group companies.

Anil Ambani is required to be examined regarding the decisions on incorporation of the alleged shell companies, special public prosecutor UU Lalit had said, adding that although he may not have been a part of the decisions taken on these issues, he would have been aware about these matters.

According to the CBI, Anil and his wife had “unrestricted powers” so far as cheque issuing authority is concerned and Tina Ambani had presided over the relevant meetings.

The advocates appearing for the three top executives of Reliance ADAG - Gautam Doshi (Group Managing Director), Surendra Pipara (Group President), Hari Nair (Senior Vice-President) - who are facing trial in the case had opposed the CBI’s plea saying that the delay on the agency’s part in moving this application shows that it is not genuine.

The defence counsel had argued that reasons for the delay could be explained but CBI has not given any explanation regarding this.

The court had on July 17 reserved its order on the CBI’s plea for summoning the Ambanis and others as prosecution witnesses.