SC to hear plea against summons to Anil Ambani on Mon
Reliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambani may have to appear on Friday before a special CBI court as a prosecution witness in 2G case as the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to give an urgent hearing on Reliance Telecom Ltd's (RTL) plea against the trial court order and posted the case for hearing on Monday.
July 25, 2013 / 15:48 IST
Reliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambani may have to appear on Friday before a special CBI court as a prosecution witness in 2G case as the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to give an urgent hearing on Reliance Telecom Ltd's (RTL) plea against the trial court order and posted the case for hearing on Monday.
A bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi said the matter would be listed on Monday when senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for RTL, pleaded for an early hearing in view of the fact that Ambani has been summoned to appear on Friday before the special CBI court.Earlier, the apex court had said the case will be heard by a special bench, comprising justices Singhvi and KS Radhakrishnan, which is hearing all the matters pertaining to 2G scam but no date was fixed for the hearing.Contesting the July 19 order of the special CBI court summoning Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani to depose as CBI witnesses, RTL questioned the decision to call new witnesses at such a late stage of trial.RTL, one of the three companies accused in the case, has challenged the order of special CBI judge OP Saini, who made the ADAG chairman and his wife prosecution witnesses on CBI's plea that their testimony would throw light on ADAG's companies alleged investment of over Rs. 990 crore relating to 2G spectrum in Swan Telecom.RTL has moved the Supreme Court against the trial court's order as the apex court bench headed by Justice Singhvi had earlier restrained all other courts, including high court, from entertaining any plea arising out of the 2G case.The trial court had allowed CBI's plea that the testimony of Anil and Tina Ambani may throw light on alleged investment of over Rs. 990 crore by his group companies in Swan Telecom, facing trial in the case along with its promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka.It had said CBI's plea to summon Anil Ambani, Tina and 11 others as prosecution witnesses was essential for arriving at a just decision in the case.Testimony of Anil and Tina is required to prove the facts "pertaining to incorporation of shell companies as some of the witnesses examined earlier have not been able to do so," the trial court had said.The court had dismissed the contentions of the counsel for the accused persons that CBI's plea "suffers from the vice of delay", saying the process of examination of prosecution witnesses is still underway.RADAG's company RTL is an accused in the case. Three top Reliance ADAG executives Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair are also facing trial in the case.The agency had alleged RTL used Swan Telecom, an ineligible firm, as its front company to get 2G licenses and radio waves. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
