Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani was Monday summoned by a Delhi court to depose as prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case July 26, an order that was challenged in the Supreme Court and was likely to be heard Tuesday.
The trial court earlier allowed the CBI's plea to make Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani and 11 others prosecution witnesses in the case. There are, however, no charges against Anil Ambani and his wife.
The Central Bureau of Investigation Monday submitted before Special Judge O.P. Saini a list of five witnesses, including Anil Ambani, who were scheduled to be called for recording of their statements.
In the list of witnesses submitted before the court, Anil Ambani's testimony was scheduled for July 26, along with forensic expert Vijay Verma.
The CBI has also called Anant Raj Industries Ltd.'s vice President (finance) Yogesh Sharma for recording of his statement in the trial court July 24.
Devendra Chandavarkar, ICICI Bank official, who was earlier examined as a witness in the case, has also been recalled for his examination July 25 along with forensic expert Deepak R. Handa.
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Reliance Telecom, facing trial in the case, approached the Supreme Court challenging the trial court's order summoning the Ambanis as prosecution witnesses.
An apex court bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Vikramajit Sen said the matter would be taken up for hearing by an appropriate bench Tuesday.
The apex court ruling came as senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi said that an application has been filed and urged the bench that it be heard.
One of the main contentions of the probe agency is that Swan Telecom, which was among the companies that got telecom spectrum and licence in 2008, was a shell of Anil Ambani Group and was hence not eligible -- a matter that has been denied by the defence.
The CBI had said Tina Ambani presided over meetings where key decisions on 2G were taken.
Three executives of Reliance Group and the promoters of Swan are facing trial.