Anil Ambani, wife Tina directed to testify as witnesses in 2G case

Anil Ambani, wife Tina directed to testify as witnesses in 2G caseReliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani will have to testify as prosecution witnesses in the 2G telecom case, according to a directive issued by a Delhi court on Friday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam, in which erstwhile telecom minister A Raja allegedly allocated telecom network licenses and 2G spectrum at sweetheart deals to ineligible firms in 2008.

Anil Ambani's Reliance Telecom Ltd allegedly created another company called Swan Telecom to obtain licenses and spectrum beyond the allowable quota.

The investigating agency requested the court earlier this week to issue summons for Mr. and Mrs. Ambani. The agency said that Mr. Ambani could help explain the actions of the company's executives, viz. Hari Nair, Gautam Doshi and Surendra Pipara, who were arrested in 2011 and are now on bail. The company's promoters, Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, were also taken into custody but later granted bail.

The CBI said that Mr. and Mrs. Ambani had presided over the meetings in which important decisions related to Swan Telecom firm were taken.

Mr. Ambani's defence lawyers were prompt to declare that they would challenge the court's decision to summon the duo as prosecution witnesses on Monday.