2G scam trial court orders Anil Ambani, wife to depose as witnesses

The 2G trial court in New Delhi today sent notices to Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina to depose as witnesses in the ongoing trial.

Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier sought Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina's presence in the court to strengthen the prosecution case against the accused.

The CBI wants to examine the Ambanis alleged link to Swan Telecom, one of the firms which had benefitted from illegalities in the 2G allocation of licences in 2008.

According to a report in Times of India, CBI has alleged that Swan Telecom was nothing but a front company of Reliance ADAG, promoted by Anil Ambani, aimed to "circumvent" the policy that debarred existing players from seeking 2G licences.

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The Ambani couple is among 70 new witnesses that the CBI wants to summon to strengthen the prosecution case. AFP[/caption]

Three top executives of Reliance ADAG - Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara, along with Reliance Telecom Ltd, Swan Telecom and its promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, are facing trial in the case.

The CBI also told the trial court that Anil Ambani's statement was recorded earlier during the probe but was not placed before it as he was not arrayed as a witness in the case.

In February, a CBI witness in the 2G telecom spectrum allocation case had identified the signature of Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani on the documents attached to the account opening form of AAA Consultancy Services Co. (P) Ltd which is allegedly an 'associate' company of RADAG.

Deposing as a CBI witness, Hasit Shukla, President of Reliance Communications (P) Limited, had identified the signatures of Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani on the documents attached to the account opening form of AAA Consultancy Services Co.(P) Ltd.