Tatas funded Unitech 2G applications, Anil Ambani claims before CBI

Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani, summoned to depose as a witness in the 2G case, told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that questions on shell firms allegedly related to his company can be "best answered" by his colleagues as he had "full faith" in them.

He also claimed before the CBI that the Tatas had "funded" Unitech's applications and fee for grant of 2G spectrum licences during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja. In a statement to CBI on February 16, 2011, Ambani said he "does not" admit that Swan Telecom, facing trial in the case, along with its promoters, was a Reliance Group company and that he has lost his "prestige" in the entire saga.

Ambani's statement was placed before the court on Monday.

The CBI, in its charge sheet, had alleged that Reliance Group's firm Reliance Telecom had used Swan Telecom, an ineligible firm, as its front company to get licences and costly radio waves.

Three top executives of Reliance Group are facing trial in the case, with others, including Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu).

"I would like to state that in this entire process, I have not gained anything and, on the contrary, I have lost my prestige/image. I am a net loser since 2008. Market capital of Reliance Communications has come down drastically. It was the vision of my father to make telecom for public," Ambani said in his statement.

On being asked about the alleged shell companies and funds that purportedly came through the firms promoted by Reliance Group, he said, "All the paper work is done by my colleagues and these questions can be best answered by my colleagues. There are millions of transactions and I cannot recollect each. I do not admit Swan Telecom was a Reliance Group company."

"There are millions of transactions and I cannot recollect each and every one of them. I do not admit that Swan Telecom was a Reliance ADA Group company," he said. The trial court, on July 19, had allowed the CBI's plea to summon Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani and 11 others as witnesses in the case.

The CBI had said that testimony of Anil Ambani and Tina Ambani may throw light on the alleged investment of over Rs 990 crore by his group companies in Swan Telecom.

It had also said that testimony of Ambanis was required to prove the facts pertaining to incorporation of alleged shell companies as "some of the witnesses examined earlier have not been able to do so."

"Regarding the whole of above issues, I state that I did not own this company--M/s Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd," he said.

On being questioned about his meetings with former Telecom Minister A Raja, the key accused in the case, Ambani said that "like my normal meetings with people, I met with A Raja also". He said he had never met Raja while he was Environment Minister.