New Delhi:
Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani has moved an application in a Delhi court saying he will not be able to appear before it as a prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum scam case tomorrow because of "pre-committed business engagements."
Seeking exemption from personal appearance, the businessman has said in his plea that he can come to the special court any day after August 15.
On July 19, the court had asked him to appear before it on Friday. After the summon, Mr Ambani-owned Reliance Telecommunications Limited (RTL) approached the Supreme Court challenging the lower court's order. The special 2G bench that is supposed to decide on the plea has posted the matter for hearing on Monday.
Mr Ambani's wife, Tina, has also been asked to testify as a witness in the case. No date has however been fixed for her appearance.
There are no charges against the Ambanis. The Central Bureau of Investigation has said that Mr Ambani can, as a witness, help explain the actions of three senior executives of his company -- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair -- who were arrested in connection with the scam. The trio is now out on bail.
In its petition, RTL has argued in the Supreme Court that the 2G trial was almost complete and summoning new witnesses like Mr. Ambani and his wife at this stage would serve no purpose.
The three officials of the group's telecom arm Reliance Telecom Ltd were arrested in 2011 for allegedly using another company, Swan Telecom, to get licences and frequency beyond their permissible quota.
The CBI wants Tina Ambani to be summoned as a prosecution witness because it says she presided over meetings where key decisions related to Swan Telecom were taken.
The CBI is investigating the scam that centres on whether mobile network licences and accompanying second-generation or 2G airwaves were given in sweetheart deals to ineligible companies in 2008 by A. Raja, who was then Telecom Minister.
Seeking exemption from personal appearance, the businessman has said in his plea that he can come to the special court any day after August 15.
On July 19, the court had asked him to appear before it on Friday. After the summon, Mr Ambani-owned Reliance Telecommunications Limited (RTL) approached the Supreme Court challenging the lower court's order. The special 2G bench that is supposed to decide on the plea has posted the matter for hearing on Monday.
Mr Ambani's wife, Tina, has also been asked to testify as a witness in the case. No date has however been fixed for her appearance.
There are no charges against the Ambanis. The Central Bureau of Investigation has said that Mr Ambani can, as a witness, help explain the actions of three senior executives of his company -- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair -- who were arrested in connection with the scam. The trio is now out on bail.
In its petition, RTL has argued in the Supreme Court that the 2G trial was almost complete and summoning new witnesses like Mr. Ambani and his wife at this stage would serve no purpose.
The three officials of the group's telecom arm Reliance Telecom Ltd were arrested in 2011 for allegedly using another company, Swan Telecom, to get licences and frequency beyond their permissible quota.
The CBI wants Tina Ambani to be summoned as a prosecution witness because it says she presided over meetings where key decisions related to Swan Telecom were taken.
The CBI is investigating the scam that centres on whether mobile network licences and accompanying second-generation or 2G airwaves were given in sweetheart deals to ineligible companies in 2008 by A. Raja, who was then Telecom Minister.
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