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
Well Done Dr. Zakir Naik. We had enough of this media misrepresenting the facts to please the people who are in power & spread the hate in common man, and help the fulfillment of the Hidden agenda of the corrupt politicians. Thanks for taking this great step. A peace loving man of any religion will support you...... Insha Allah Victory will be yours.
Please watch his team member junaid khan recent interview about his income and behavior with others
Even his conversion is well planned drama
This bussiness is much better than dargah bussiness
It is good that the media houses are being sued for defamation. Media should stop slandering and making false stories against people. Only when an FIR / case is registered, should they break the story.
This has been going on for such a long time and a stop has to be put. Arnab Goswami and his type have taken a beating out of this case. Even the government has lost a lot of credibility because of this case.
As per naik media aired his videos which are out of context to mislead the people!!!!!!
If so my question is then why zakir naik blind followers are urging other people to watch his videos in youtube if dey are out off context?...as per his followers if some1 converts to islam after watching his videos then its good for socity if he becomes terrorist den its out of context...hahaha
Shame on RSS agent Arnab Go cow swami,
you will not come up'' time will come your realy face will come out and public will spit your face,for money and power not lift up god know the reality and he is the planer.
Well done.. WE ARE WIth U Dr. Zakir Naik...
People are Fooled since decades with manipulating the facts and presenting to the public...
Presenting news with suits and ties and make up doesnt make anybody Good and Trust worthy... We should look at who is behind it... there are many corporations who play with the minds of people... who lobby all this evil propagands even the cheddis have fallen to this category.
We should teach this decievers a lesson...
But ALLAH has power over all things... Those who know ALLAH, will never be in FEAR of any situation.. May ALLAH make us one of them.. it is the greatest blessing from the CREATOR of all the Exists.
Insha Allah, you will suceed Zakir Saab, These dogs like Arnab gooo sami, Naren should be taught a lesson for ever...... WELL DONE. WE WISH GOOD LUCK....
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