Supreme Court reserves verdict in Ericsson’s contempt plea against RCom
Live MintThe Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on Ericsson’s contempt plea against Reliance Communications Ltd and its chairman Anil Ambani for “wilful disobedience” of the court’s earlier orders to pay dues of ₹550 crore to the Swedish telecom equipment maker. Ericsson had asked the court to direct Ambani to submit ₹550 crore along with interest of 12% per annum and urged that till then, his investment in firms, including Reliance Capital Ltd, Reliance Inceptum Pvt Ltd, and Reliance Innoventures Pvt Ltd, be frozen. Ericsson also sought contempt proceedings against Reliance Infratel Ltd, its chairperson Chhaya Virani, Reliance Telecom Ltd, its chairman Satish Seth, and State Bank of India. The Supreme Court had on 30 November cleared spectrum sale by Anil Ambani-controlled RCom to elder brother Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio on condition that the seller furnishes ₹1,400 crore as corporate guarantee to the government within two days.