New Delhi, Sept 11: The Delhi High Court today set aside a trial court order summoning Reliance Group chairman Mukesh Ambani and managing director Anil Ambani in a case in which some company officials are accused of procuring documents in violation of the Official Secrets Act. Justice J D Kapoor, who had on July 17, stayed operation of the order of additional sessions Judge P K Bhasin in this regard, confirmed the interim order against their summoning.

The court had earlier set aside Bhasin's order upholding the summoning of three top Reliance executives in the case and remanded the case back to the trial court. Appearing for Ambanis, senior counsel Kapil Sibal and D C Mathur had argued that the sessions court could not have passed the order for their summoning without hearing them.

While deciding a revision petition of three Reliance executives accused in the OSA case, Bhasin had directed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to issue summons to Mukesh and Anil, the then managing directors of Reliance Industries, as they were "statutorily deemed to be guilty" of the offence alleged to have been committed by officials of the company.

Bureau Report