SC issues notice to CBI in 2G scam case

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the CBI on petitions filed by Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal and Essar Group vice-chairman Ravi Ruia. Mittal and Ruia are seeking quashing of summons issued by the 2G trial court in the additional spectrum scam matter, reports CNBC-TV18's Malvika Jain.

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and it will have to file a reply to the petitions filed by Ravi Ruia and Sunil Bharti Mittal within four weeks. Thereafter, a period of three weeks has been given to these two persons to file their counter replies or rejoinders. So, in total, seven weeks' time has been given to both the parties to file their replies to the Supreme Court. Until then, this matter has been adjourned and in all likelihood, it is going to be taken up now in July. The Supreme Court is hearing petitions filed by Sunil Bharti Mittal and Ravi Ruia seeking quashing of summons that had been suo moto issued in their names by the 2G trial court in this matter of grant of additional spectrum to Bharti Airtel and Vodafone in 2002. These persons had not been named by the CBI in its charge sheet but the judge, based on the evidence on record, on the basis of the charge sheet and the witnesses records, had summoned them. Thereafter, they had approached the Supreme Court for quashing of these summons. So, the trial at the Patiala House Court has been postponed by the Supreme Court until this matter is taken up by the apex court. According to legal experts this means that on the next date of hearing, that is April 29, Ravi Ruia and Sunil Bharti Mittal will not have to appear before the trial court.