Supreme Court to hear Ruia plea on April 15

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices on a plea by Essar Group's Ravi Ruia against the 2G's court decison to summon him as an accused in the case. Ruia was asked to appear on April 11 in the 2G court along with Bharti CEO and MD Sunil Mittal.

Ruia's plea will be heard along with that of Mittal on April 15. A bench headed by the CJI also directed the 2G court not to proceed with Ruia's case till April 16. Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi arguing for Ruia said that the 2G court decision was "absolutely" wrong, and should be stayed. "Why is the CBI defending the decision? Then it should have made me an accused," he argued rhetorically.

Ruia's petition was filed by counsel Mahesh Agarwal. It says that it appears the only basis for summoning Ruia was that since he had chaired some of the meetings of Sterling Cellular, he was thus the 'alter-ego' and 'directing mind of the will' of the company. In fact, Ruia held no executive position in Sterling Cellular. Further, the Essar Group was only a minority shareholder of Sterling Cellular, it said.

Such a basis where any Director is held liable for the acts of the company is contrary to the well-established legal position.

Ruia has not been named in the chargesheet and neither was he ever investigated in regard with this matter, it says.