2G scam: CBI gives virtual clean chit to Anil Ambani

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while continuing to probe senior Reliance ADAG officials in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, has given what amounts to a clean chit to group chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina.

The CBI, in a status report to the Supreme Court on 29 September, said it has no evidence of Ambani's direct involvement in the structuring of different companies and transfer of funds relating to Swan Telecom, which got radio spectrum and licence under circumstances which the investigator holds suspect.

According to the CBI, being the majority shareholder in Reliance ADAG, Anil Ambani and his family members would normally be the main beneficiaries of Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom. "However, before any benefit was made to Swan Telecom on account of grant of licence, it was taken over by the DB Group. Therefore, DB Group and not Reliance ADA Group had benefited from the issue of licences to Swan Telecom," the CBI said.

The agency, however, told the court that it was still trying to ascertain the "real beneficiaries". On Sunday, the CBI said that it was still probing the role of Anil Ambani as part of its investigation into the 2G scam.

The CBI was filing its response to a note submitted by petitioner Prashant Bhushan of the Centre for Public Interest Litigation in which he questioned the fairness and impartial nature of its investigations.

Among other things, Bhushan had alleged that it was inconceivable that three employees could have created a convoluted maze of companies to disguise Swan's real ownership and taken Rs1,000 crore of company money without the approval of the chairman of the board.