We didn’t call Ambanis: CBI chief

New Delhi: The decision to make Anil and Tina Ambani witnesses in the 2G spectrum scam trial was not taken by the CBI but by special public prosecutor U U Lalit, who was appointed by the Supreme Court, the agency's director Ranjit Sinha told TOI. 

    The CBI chief said Lalit had given an application to make the couple witnesses along with 15 others. "The decision to make Anil and Tina Ambani prosecution witnesses in the 2G case was not taken by us (investigating team). It was taken by the special public prosecutor," Sinha said. The CBI says the evidence is well documented in the 2G case and the statements will have no bearing on the outcome. 
    The CBI had, in fact, never questioned Tina Ambani and its officials had claimed last year that they did not require the couple in the case. Anil Ambani was once examined by the CBI but later, the agency said he was not needed for testimony. The development was first reported by TOI in June when the application was moved in court to make them witnesses. 
    According to sources, the special public prosecutor is within his rights to add somebody as a witness in a particular case and he does not need to consult the investigating team. SPECTRUMPED 
Ambani can't recall giving note to CBI 
New Delhi: The CBI didn't want Anil and Tina Ambani as witnesses in the 2G case but it was the decision of special public prosecutor U U Lalit. Appearing before special CBI judge O P Saini who is hearing the case, Anil Ambani had on Thursday resiled from his statement made during the probe in February 2011. In the case of Tina Ambani, the CBI claimed she was "deliberately withholding facts" which the judge found was "adverse" to the prosecution. 
    The 54-year-old corporate baron, during his deposition on August 22, recalled that he had visited the CBI office in February 2011 but did not hand over any note to the CBI officer. "I do not recall," was Ambani's stock reply to most of the questions put up by the prosecution. 
    He also said he did not have knowledge about various firms — AAA Consultancy Services (P) Limited, ADAE Ventures (P) Limited, Parrot Consultants (P) Limited, Tiger Traders (P) Limited, Zebra Consultants (P) Limited, Swan Telecom (P) Limited and Swan Consultants (P) Limited — which were alleged to be associate companies of Reliance ADAG.