2G case: Unwell Karim Morani exempted from appearance for a day

Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani, facing trial in the 2G case, was exempted on Monday by the Delhi court from being present before it during the day on medical grounds.

Special CBI Judge OP Saini exempted Morani from being present in the court for today only after the CBI did not oppose his plea.

The court, however, asked Morani's counsel to be present before it during the day's proceedings.

"An application for exemption from personal appearance of accused Karim Morani for today, moved by his counsel, on medical grounds, is already (there) on record.

"Senior public prosecutor has no objection to the same. Exemption allowed for today only, subject to the condition that his identity shall not be disputed and his counsel shall remain present in the court for participating in the court proceedings," the judge said.

The court, meanwhile, recorded the statement of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd's senior executive vice-president (accounts and finance) Ashish Tambawala as witness in the case.

He identified signatures of RIL's additional vice-president (account and finance) Bharat Amberkar, and those of one S Sankaran, on eight payment transfer letters dated October 18, 2007 by which Rs 800 crores had been transferred to Swan Telecom by Vikata Engineering Services (P) Ltd.

"I have been shown eight payments transfer letters dated October 18, 2007...for Rs100 crore each from Vikata Engineering Services (P) Ltd...to Swan Telecom (P) Ltd...These eight payment transfer letters are signed by Bharat Amberkar and S Sankaran at points A and B respectively, which I identify," he said.

Similarly, Tambawala identified his signature on a December 17, 2007 payment transfer letter through which Rs900 crore was transferred to Reliance Capital Ltd from Vikata Engineering Services (P) Ltd.

"The letter (payment transfer letter) has been signed by myself and Madhukar Moolwany at points A and B respectively, which I identify," he said.

He, however, said no one had instructed him to sign the documents, which the CBI showed him in the court, as authorised signatory of a company.

"I did not receive any instructions from any of my seniors to sign any of the documents as authorised signatory which have been shown to me in the court and which bear my signatures, as the entire process is system driven," said Tambawala, whose cross examination would continue tomorrow.

Tambawala, during recording of his statement earlier, had identified various documents, including payment transfer letters and cheques exchanged between the alleged associate companies of Reliance ADA Group.