New Delhi:
Billionaire Anil Ambani has been allowed to skip an appearance tomorrow in the Delhi court which is handling the telecom case, centred on whether firms like his won out-of-turn mobile network licenses and free second-generation (2G) airwaves in 2008.
Mr Ambani had been summoned to court tomorrow to testify as a prosecution witness; his lawyers said he has official commitments that cannot be changed.
Separately, they have also petitioned the Supreme Court against Mr Ambani appearing as a witness. That appeal will be heard on Monday.
There are no charges against Mr Ambani but three senior executives from his Reliance Communications were jailed for nearly seven months in 2011 on charges that they used a front company to acquire more than the legally permissible quota of licenses and frequency.
14 people and several companies, including the promoters of some of India's biggest telecoms, have been accused of conspiring to rig the process of allocation of licenses.
A Raja, who was Telecom Minister in 2008, was released on bail after spending nearly 15 months in jail. The charges against him include misuse of his public office, and if convicted, he could face a life sentence.
All accused in the case have denied any wrongdoing as the trial continues.