A Delhi court today asked Bharti CMD Sunil Mittal and Essar promoter Ravi Ruia to seek clarification from the Supreme Court regarding its interim order on the issue of holding trial proceedings in the additional spectrum allocation case.

Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini told both the corporate honchos to seek clarification from the apex court on this issue by August 14.

“The matter is adjourned for August 14 during which you (Mittal and Ruia) will seek clarification from the Supreme Court about its order on the issue,” the judge said and posted the matter for August 14.

The issue was raised after the counsel appearing for Mittal and Ruia, who were earlier summoned as accused by the court in the case, sought adjournment of hearing before it on the ground that the apex court had postponed the proceedings before the trial court on the separate pleas filed by the two accused challenging the order.

The CBI, however, opposed their plea saying that the matter has not been stayed by the apex court and it is the duty of both the accused to get it clarified.

“It cannot be like that the matter will not be listed in the Supreme Court, so adjourn the proceedings here...It is their duty that they should get it clarified from the Supreme Court. They cannot sit at their homes and say the matter should be adjourned here,” CBI prosecutor K.K. Goel said.

The judge also told the defence counsel that there is no stay on the proceedings before him by the apex court.

“There is no stay order as of now,” the judge said, adding, “As on today, there is no stay. I do not mind giving date but there is no stay.’’

The apex court in its April 26 interim order had exempted them from personal appearance in the trial court and had said that the hearing against them will remain “postponed” until further orders.

The order had come on Mittal and Ruia’s pleas challenging the special court’s March 19 order by which it had summoned them as accused in the case.

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