Essar, Airtel Regret Summons in 2G Case

New Delhi: The Essar and the Bharti Group have expressed regret over summons of a Delhi court to produce their top brass in a case relating to alleged irregularities in allotting excess telecom airwaves

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O.P. Saini summoned, among others, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal and Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia in the case pertaining to award of spectrum during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.

"The Essar Group has always displayed the highest regard for law and ethics and has always conducted its business in accordance with the laws of the land," the group said in a statement.

"Thus, the recent order purporting to take cognizance against Ravi Ruia, in relation to allegations of excess spectrum, is both shocking and surprising," the group said, adding they were minority partners in the company in question.

The Bharti Group expressed similar regret, saying their entity and promoters always practiced the highest standards of corporate governance, even alluding that the charges framed were an attempt to tarnish its high reputation.

"We are saddened at the summons being issued to Bharti Airtel and to Sunil Bharti Mittal as chairman and managing director of Bharti Airtel, whilst taking cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the CBI against Bharti Airtel, two Vodafone entities and an individual."

The group further said it was disappointed with the charge sheet, as it was one of the few Indian multinationals with a reputation of good governance standards, with its chairman being a global leader associated with some best-known institutions of the world, besides being a brand ambassador for India.

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