Court rejects RTL plea for deferring Anil Ambani's deposition

A Delhi court today dismissed Reliance Telecom Ltd's plea for postponement of examination of additional witnesses -- Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina -- in the 2G case saying no prejudice would be caused to any accused by their deposition.
"Furthermore, the witness for tomorrow (Anil Ambani) has already been served and an accommodation was granted to him earlier also when he was summoned for July 26. At that time also, the accused had not stated that examination of these witnesses would cause prejudice to it.
"I see no reason as to how any prejudice would be caused to the accused, if these witnesses are examined now," special CBI judge O P Saini said.

The court in its order dismissing RTL's plea also said that no such prayer for postponement of examination of witnesses has been made by either Anil or Tina.
"Since no prayer has been made by Anil Ambani, who is to appear as witness tomorrow, and plea of Tina Ambani, who is to appear as witness day after tomorrow, is pending disposal, I do not wish to say anything more, more so when the instant application has been moved by an accused and not by any witness. Accordingly, I find no merit in the application and the same is dismissed," the judge said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today declined to pass any order on RTL's plea for stay of trial court's direction summoning Anil Ambani and other witnesses in 2G case.

On August 17, RTL had approached the special CBI court with the plea that it should "await" outcome of Supreme Court proceedings on their petition challenging summoning of additional witnesses in the 2G case, before examining Anil and Tina Ambani.
The trial court, in its July 19 order, had said CBI's plea to summon Anil, Tina and 11 others as prosecution witnesses was essential for arriving at a just decision in the case.

The court has summoned Anil and Tina for August 22 and 23 respectively for recording their statements.
RTL, along with others, including former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, is facing trial in 2G case.