A city court on Tuesday summoned the CMD of Bharti Cellular ltd Sunil Bharti Mittal and six others as it heard the 2G spectrum allocation case. The court said there was “enough material” to proceed against them in a corruption case relating to allocation of additional spectrum in 2002. Though Mittal’s name was not mentioned in CBI’s charge sheet as an accused, the court in its order said it was taking cognisance of the case and issuing summons to all the seven accused, including him, for April 11.
Besides Mittal, special CBI Judge OP Saini also summoned Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia, who was then a director in one of the accused companies -- Sterling Cellular
ltd — and is already facing trial in another case arising out of the probe into the 2G spectrum allocation case, and Asim Ghosh, the then managing director of accused firm Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt ltd.
“Accordingly, I take cognisance of the case. Issue summons to all seven accused for April 11, 2013…I have carefully gone through the copy of FIR, chargesheet, statement of witnesses and documents on record. On the perusal of the record, I am satisfied that there is enough incriminating material on record to proceed against the accused persons,” the special judge said.
later in the evening, Bharti Airtel said in a statement that it was saddened at the summons being issued to Bharti Airtel ltd and Sunil Bharti Mittal though CBI has asserted that they have not found any evidence of conspiracy against any individual whatsoever.