Henry Richard, Registrar of Companies, who was deposing as a prosecution witness in the case, told Special CBI Judge O P Saini that RTL, Reliance Communication Ltd (RCL) and STPL were "associates of each other" and these companies belonged to the RADAG.
The deposition by Richard assumes importance as CBI had, in its charge sheet filed on April 2 last year, alleged that RTL used STPL, an ineligible firm, as its front company to get 2G licenses and the radio waves.
During his cross examination by senior advocate H H Ponda, who appeared for RTL, an accused firm in the 2G case, Richard said he had come across some documents in the CBI office which showed certain "material transactions" between STPL and RTL.
"I had come across a letter dated March 2, 2007 addressed to HDFC, Fort Branch, Mumbai, from RTL instructing the bank to transfer Rs 974.49 crore from RTL account...To STPL," he said.
The witness further said this amount related to "subscription of preference shares" along with premium and that RTL had invested 9.87 per cent of equity shares in STPL.
Asked by defence counsel why he had nowhere stated in his March 2011 report that STPL was an "associate" of RADAG but had said so during recording of his statement in the court, the witness said he had concluded in his report as per the facts mentioned in it. (More)