Judge orders duo to appear as witnesses in 2G case.
By R. Chandrasekaran
CHENNAI: Ever since the 2G scam was taken up by the court a few years ago, there are scores of people appearing in various courts either as witnesses or accused. Now it’s the turn of Reliance Communications’ chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani to appear in the court as witness in the 2G case.
On Friday, a Delhi High Court gave its ruling asking both to appear as witnesses to determine Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group’s alleged investment of more than Rs.9.9 billion in Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd., which is facing a trial in the court along with the company’s promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka.
The special judge of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) OP Saini cross-examined 133 witnesses in the current 2G trial following the alleged potential loss of Rs.1.75 trillion in allocating 2G telecom license to various telecom service providers.
Since some of the executives from Anil Ambani controlled company, Reliance Telecom Ltd., were arrested and released on bail for their role in investing in Swan Telecom, the CBI has been seeking the permission to examine Anil and Tina as eyewitnesses for the investments made by their employees in Swan Telecom. Eleven more persons were also asked to appear before the court for cross examination.
Granting the plea of the CBI, the 2G Trial Court, Judge Saini said, “I find that the examination of these witnesses is necessary for just decision of the case. The CBI’s application is allowed in total and all 13 have been summoned.”
However, Anil Ambani’s lawyer told the press that the order will be challenged in the higher courts.
The 2G scam has sent some politicians, including the former communications minister A Raja and the DMK’s president M Karunanidhi’s daughter and MP Kanimozhi to jail. A plea is also pending before the court for summoning Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal.
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