Indian court summons ‘served’ to billionaire through Malaysian media
Two-page court order was published in Malaysian newspapers
By Cindy Yeap
Billionaire Ananda Krishnan and his long-time point man Ralph Marshall’s run-in with Indian authorities reached a new epoch with the publishing of a two-page court order by the Supreme Court of India in Malaysian newspapers summoning the duo to appear before it or risk financial consequences.
Those familiar with the run-in say the court order does not concern Bursa Malaysia-listed Maxis Bhd and Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd (which only has Malaysia operations and not Indian units that are held by separate entities controlled by Ananda), but essentially frustrates a planned merger between Ananda-controlled Indian wireless telecoms operator Aircel Ltd and larger rival Reliance Communications Ltd, owned by India’s 32nd richest billionaire Anil Ambani (US$2.5 billion [RM11.1 billion] net worth according to Forbes).
“In order to enforce the presence of [the] accused Augustus Ralph Marshall, Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam, Astro All Asia Networks Ltd and Maxis Communications Bhd, we propose to restrain, earnings of any revenue, by using the [Aircel’s] 2G spectrum licences, which were originally granted to Aircel Telecommunications,” read the Jan 6 Indian court order, carried over two pages in The Sun newspaper yesterday.