Essar, Loop promoters skip 2G trial; cite improper summons

New Delhi: The promoters of Essar group and Loop Telecom — Anshuman and Ravi Ruia and IP Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan respectively — today failed to appear before a Delhi court trying the 2G spectrum case and their lawyers claimed they have not been “duly” served with the summons. “Summons has not been served to my client at his proper residential address and he is seeking one month exemption as he is at present abroad,” senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Vikash Saraf, Essar group Director (Strategy and Planning), told Special CBI Judge OP Saini. The plea that the summons have not been “duly” served was taken by Ruias and Khaitans also. [caption id=“attachment_195577” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The promoters of Essar didn’t show up in court today in the 2G trial case.”]  [/caption] The Special CBI Judge had earlier — on 21 December — issued summons to Essar Group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters IP Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan, Vikash Saraf and three firms after taking cognisance of the CBI chargesheet arising out of the probe in the 2G scam. However, the representatives of accused firms, Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Teleholdings today appeared in pursuance to the summons. Special Public Prosecutor UU Lalit questioned the non-appearance of some of the accused saying that the defence counsel were “indirectly asking for the stay of proceedings” which they failed to get from the Delhi High Court. The defence lawyers said that the Ruias and Khaitans are presently in Dubai and that CBI officials pasted copies of the summons at their Delhi and Mumbai addresses. The agency did not execute the service of summons to the proper addresses, they said. Seeking the court’s intervention, the defence lawyers said that the matter be deferred as the issue relating to the jurisdiction of the special CBI Judge was pending adjudication before the Delhi High Court. PTI