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
This is the Result of Fear for Police & Sangh, So for we got good publicity for the Program, All the best for the program, Good luck for all the cadets.....
probably some political outfit of Ullal assembly constituency feared of PFI progress may have misused power to deny permission.
Rss and police affraid of PFI jai ho. Zindabad zindabad popular front zindabad.
Freedom from Hunger Fredom Fear...............
No Matter how you try UNITY MARCH will succeed by people's support and participation
DK Dist police is working for RSS only providing full security for their march. Police with not object while RSS terrorists are marching with najked sword and lathis in therir hands whereas PFI cannot take out peace march. Why Karnataka Govt is so soft on sangh parivar. Hate mongers from this organisation can give any speech whereas other cannot make any speech.
Now Saffron forces do what ever they can...............but how much you try to oppress Popular Front will emerge more powerfull
this is not Shimoga or Mysore that you can Play
When ever POPULAR FRONT wanted to go for UNITY March 60% and so called secular parties comes Hand in Hand to try to avoid.................but all fails........
''ILLEGAL'' its impossible from Organization like Popular Front of India ....as all these Years we have seen Polpular Front of India a Well Disciplined and visionary approach towards building positive youths ..................
60% in police are in full force....................UNITY March created fear in Kalladka's Heart
Disgusting, Purely Double role Police Dept.
Denied permission to PFI Unity March means they destroyed Indian Constitution Law.
WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY
PFI GO AHEAD WITH MARCH
Paradox of the budhivanthara jille: No permission for unity march. Police protection for Sangh Parivar'? division march. RIP DK district administration.
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