NEW DELHI, April 8 (Reuters) - India's Supreme Court hasdeferred a decision on whether Bharti Airtel's < chairman can be summoned in a case over alleged corruption inallocating mobile phone bandwidth, lawyers said on Monday.
The lower court on March 19 had asked billionaire SunilMittal to appear before it on April 11. The case also involvesformer executives in two firms that are now part of VodafoneGroup's Indian unit.
Mittal is seeking to dismiss the case. The Supreme Courtwill hear the case again next Monday, lawyers said after ahearing, declining to be identified. Bharti Airtel declinedimmediate comment.
Indian police in December charged Bharti Airtel and the twocompanies that are now part of Vodafone's Indian unit overalleged irregularities in obtaining mobile phone airwaves in2002, but did not name any company executive.
Last month, the New Delhi court summoned Mittal; Asim Ghosh,the former head of Vodafone's Indian unit; and Ravi Ruia, one ofthe founders of diversified conglomerate Essar Group, in thecase, saying the executives "represent the directing mind andwill of each company". None of the executives has been charged.
Vodafone, which entered India in 2007, has previouslydeclined to comment on the case. Essar Group has said it waslooking into legal proceedings to challenge the court's order.
Vodafone (VOD)
