Reliance Telecom challenges charges in 2G scam

New Delhi: Reliance Telecom on Monday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the charges framed against it by a CBI court in 2G spectrum case.

Challenging the trial court's order charging it with criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery, the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)-led company pleaded that it did not indulge in any wrongdoing and charges framed against it were "wrong".

"No incriminating material has been indicated in the charge sheet or by the prosecution in its submission on the charges," the petition filed by RTL said.

"The charges framed against the petitioner (RTL) had no basis in law. In fact, there is no act or omission attributable to the petitioner that has been indicated in the charges that justify the continuation of criminal proceedings against the petitioner," it said.

"The charges framed as against the accused indicates that there are charges for multiple conspiracies and it is unclear as to how and when the multiple conspiracies took place and also as to how they form a cohesive single conspiracy," it contended.

The trial court in its order had earlier dismissed the contention of RTL that Swan Telecom was not its "associate", saying it was, directly or indirectly, holding 100 per cent shares in STPL.

"Its (STPL) source of fund was RCL/RTL (Reliance Communication Ltd/ Reliance Telecom Ltd). Directly or indirectly it was holding 100 per cent shares of STPL as on the date of application. The source of funding of STPL was RCL/RTL. As such, STPL was not only an 'associate' but a front, or a facade, for

RCL/RTL. In a sense, STPL was RCL/RTL itself and STPL was just a mask for it," the Special CBI judge OP Saini had said.

The CBI court on Saturday charged Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Managing Director Gautam Doshi, Senior Vice President of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Senior Vice President of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Reliance Telecom Surendra Pipara, Senior Vice President of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Hari Naire with criminal conspiracy to ensure criminal breach of trust under Indian Penal Code Section 120 (b) (punishment of criminal conspiracy) read with 409.

The corporate executives and business tycoons have been slapped with Indian Penal Code Section 192 (falsification of charges) as well.

With additional information from Reuters and PTI