Mumbai, Feb 8: Anil Ambani, the brother of Asia’s richest man has pleaded poverty in his dispute with three Chinese banks seeking $680 million in defaulted loans.
“The value of my investments has collapsed,” Anil Ambani said, according to a court filing by the banks in a London lawsuit.
“The current value of my shareholdings is down to approximately $82.4m and my net worth is zero after taking into account my liabilities. In summary, I do not hold any meaningful assets which can be liquidated for the purposes of these proceedings.”
The lawsuit was filed by three state-controlled Chinese banks which argue that they provided a loan of $925 million to Ambani’s Reliance Communications Ltd. in 2012 with the condition that he personally guarantee the debt. The comments were disclosed on Friday as Ambani sought to avoid depositing hundreds of millions of dollars with the court ahead of a trial.
The embattled Indian tycoon says that while he agreed to give a non-binding “personal comfort letter,” he never gave a guarantee tied to his personal assets -- an “extraordinary potential personal liability.”
The 60-year-old is the brother of Mukesh Ambani, who’s worth $56.5 billion and is the wealthiest man in Asia. Anil, on the other hand, has seen his personal fortune dwindle over recent years, losing his billionaire status. His Reliance Communications filed for bankruptcy last year.
The banks asked Judge David Waksman to force Ambani to put up $656 million into the court’s account.
Representatives for Ambani’s Reliance Group said they couldn’t immediately comment. They said the group will issue a statement once the court issues the final order.
Ambani’s lawyer, Robert Howe, said the court shouldn’t order his client to make a payment he can’t make. The tycoon argues that an order requiring him to do so would hinder his ability to defend himself in the case, Howe said.
“There’s no evidence of some giant pot of gold that he can pull $1 million, let alone $10 million, let alone $100 million,” Howe said.
Bankim Thanki, an attorney representing Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, said in a filing that Ambani’s statements are “plainly a yet further opportunistic attempt to evade his financial obligations to the lenders.”
Ambani was caught up in another legal wrangle last year when India’s Supreme Court threatened him with prison after Reliance Communications failed to pay Rs 5.5 billion ($77 million) to Ericsson AB’s Indian unit. The judges gave him a month to find the funds, and his brother, Mukesh, stepped in just in time to make the payment.
Anil said in a filing that he recognized that the judge would want to know if he could satisfy any order to put up funds from outside resources, including his family.
“I can confirm that I have made enquiries but I am unable to raise any finance from external sources,” he said. Judge Waksman had said in an earlier ruling that he believed Ambani’s defence would be shown to be “opportunistic and false.”
Ambani’s lawyer told the judge that as a result of the comments the tycoon’s relatives were unlikely to lend any funds.
There is a “very substantial risk they will never get it back,” Howe said.
Comments
Whatever you do, shout, cry, Islam is the fastest growing religion not only in India, also in the whole world.
Only learned and educated people know about Islam.
corrupt brains talk like this so called sadhvi.
Even a 5 year old boys and girls can understand that there is no Beja (intellect) in them... How come the adult elect such kind of Leaders who bring their intellect to compare with the Monkey... Sometimes monkey show how intelligent they are...
She looks like came from BUDWARPET of Pune....anyway she use to give controversial statements for publicity stunt but she can be well known as an prostitute for adithyanath & others but not anything else....
Bondu ijjandina marl ponjo..... now i laugh to this type of idiotic statements this people dont know that islam will be alive till this earth exists........pity on u uncultured people
We need people like (Trump,Sadvi,Thogadia,Batta,) etc...who really advertise ISLAM.
Their Anger,Aggressiveness,Fear about Islam is clearly shown to the World.
After all what can a Creation do in front of their Creator (Almighty Allah)
We can just help you by Praying to Almighty Allah may to shower his blessings on you people .Ameen.
Its difficult because many non-muslims born to muslim fathers. Only their mother can tell their real fathers.
RSS should conduct DNA test, i hope they will find 99% DNA belongs to MUSLIM LEADERS.
1000 SAAL HAIYAASHI KA NATHIJA HAIN
She looks like road side beggar begging for food...who is she?? look at her.. yuck!!
Dear Prachiji,
good idea. 1.But first of stop buying gas, petrol, diesel from these countries. For that you need to research on cow urine to use as alternative or need to start pushpak viman,as always our PM says, Planes are the ideas from Puransas. 2.Stop exporting to these countries. 3. Bring back all the Indians working in these countries. Let us see how it will work. Do you have the plan to do this? 4. call back External PM or boycott him for visiting muslim countries begging for investment.Simply giving the communal statement and enjoying with the wealth of these people is not good for your health. people are realizing their mistake by voting your party.
India should be free from Sadhus and Sadhvis and should be sent to Singapore to share / taste snake and beef dishes with Naren
This is what BJPians foul mouth has to utter when PM is roaming around the word visiting Muslims countries and Christian countries begging them to invest in India. Poor people does not have any Hindu country to visit other than Nepal. They want Petrol from Muslim countries, they want investments from Muslim countries, they want Beef order from Muslim countries. But, they don't want Indians to live in India.
BJP is a party of such radical communals. They are not even aware that if they harm 1, 10 will be harmed by Creator, harm 2000 then 20000 will be harmed by Creator. Creator is the best planner. Do not forget natural disasters where 1000s perished.
Bap ray Bap wa Wa Parchi Deddi you better Tie with Our Gangasara \Narain\"he intends same stupid thinking, mainly you Saffron Criminal goonda Looter leader your mind is very short, Your Dream is very high but If you want leave in this Country your thinking stupidity's you Deedi never and ever get peace always in Hell of life, you Understand First, Vanishing others you might Vanish First remember this world is far away from your thinking, you thought your Cheela go America kneel down to US President, you can dream anything for long/ way distance but do not happy days, You Buffoon's definitely get your own day one or other day Parchi."
This only dream......in future it will be vice versa
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