Anil Ambani, chairman of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and a former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, was made to wait for over an hour by the Murli Manohar Joshi-led Public Accounts Committee before he was called in for intensive questioning on the 2G spectrum issue.
But he was certainly not as frank and candid during his questioning as Tata Group Chairman Rata Tata had been on Monday. He pleaded that since the name of his company and some key officials figure in the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation on the massive scam, he would not like to say anything which could be used against him in the court.
PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi agreed to Ambani's plea for immunity on some issues, but on certain other issues, it was felt that he was being evasive and did not want to reply.
On some issues, Ambani claimed that he could not remember and would have to consult documents and papers, promising to send the documents to the PAC within the next couple of days. Joshi reportedly told Ambani that since he is known as someone who has all the facts on his fingerprints, it is surprising that he does not remember certain things.
Ambani was asked direct questions on his links with Swan Telecom, his business interests in telecom as well as dual technology.
DB Realty promoter Vinod Goenka and Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra also told the PAC that as they have been named in the chargesheet, they didn't want to incriminate themselves.
In sharp contrast, Telenor Asia Private Ltd Director Charles Woodworth was much more forthcoming in his answers. He reportedly discussed finances and the operations of the company.
The PAC reportedly realised that some of these companies got involved in the telecom business only after were given licenses in the 2G spectrum.
The capital was increased just a few days after the company was formed. This was a pattern followed by most of the companies and the PAC is looking at this aspect in great detail.
Meanwhile, the PAC has taken serious note of the utterances of Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari, who is also a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, where he has asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to 'rein in' Murli Manohar Joshi, who is going all out in summoning industrialists, bureaucrats, journalists and others before the PAC.
The PAC has authorised Joshi to verify the statement of Tiwari and take appropriate action against him.
It is learnt that while the PAC has still not taken a call on whether to summon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had himself offered to appear before the committee, it is likely to call top bureaucrats in the Prime Minister's Office.
