Anil, Tina to appear as witnesses in 2G case

Reliance ADA Group chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina will have to appear as prosecution witnesses in the 2G spectrum allocation case as a special court here on Friday allowed the CBI’s plea seeking that the couple be summoned along with 11 others. Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini allowed the CBI’s application, which said summoning a total of 13 people, including Anil Ambani and Tina Ambani, was “necessary for just decision of the case”. The CBI had sought the summoning of Mr Ambani as a witness to ascertain the alleged inves-tment of over `990 cr-ore by Reliance ADA Group companies in Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd, facing trial in the case along with its promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka. The CBI had contended that Anil Ambani will be able to “throw light” on the issues of alleged investment by his group companies. He is required to be examined regarding the decisions on inco-rporation of the alleg-ed shell companies, the special public prosecutor had said, adding that although he may not have been a part of the decisions, he would have been aware of these matters. The CBI had said Mr Ambani and his wife had “unrestricted powers” so far as cheque issuing autho-rity is concerned and that Tina Ambani had presided over the relevant meetings.