I'm a social worker, no role in husband's group: Tina Ambani

Deposing as a prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case, Tina Ambani, wife of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani, told a court here Friday that she was a social worker and had no role in running her husband's companies.

In the special court of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), presided over by Judge O.P. Saini, Tina Ambani also said that she had no knowledge about Swan Telecom, which is among the companies awarded telecom spectrum and licence in 2008.

"I have no role in running Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. I am a social worker. I run hospitals. I look after my family and my children," Tina Ambani said. "I am also not aware of any company named Swan Telecom."

The main charge of the investigative agency, prompting it to call Anil and Tina Ambani as witnesses, is that Swan Telecom was a shell company of the group, ineligible for telecom spectrum and licence -- a matter strongly denied by the defence.

The CBI says Tina Ambani presided over meetings where key decisions on 2G were taken.

Wearing a beige coloured salwar-suit (Indian attire), Tina Ambani took the witness stand in the packed room, and recorded her statement in a calm and composed manner. "I am fine with whatever you want to ask me," she said.

Asked about the three executives of the Reliance Group charged by the probe agency, she denied any acquaintance with two of them, but said she knew the third socially.

"I don't know Hari Nair, Surendra Pipara. I know Gautam Doshi socially, I know he is a tax person. I met him at a Diwali party," she said, adding, when probed further: "I don't understand if they have any role."

Tina Ambani was also asked to identify her signatures on documents pertaining to the company's meetings. "Its been more than six years. I don't recall now. But if the documents have my signature, then I must have attended the meetings," she said.

When the court concluded recording the statement of Tina Ambani, she invited the Judge to Mumbai and visit her hospital.

"Sir, please come to Bombay when you come there and make a visit to my hospital. It's a super speciality hospital. It's social work. You must come and see," she said.

Judge Saini seemed to have accepted the offer: "But after the disposal of this case."