The Supreme Court today agreed to hear on February 3 the plea of a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India that it be heard in the Aircel-Maxis 2G spectrum case as it has got financial exposure in the firms concerned.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J. S. Khehar said it would hear the plea on the date fixed in the case when Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for banks, sought urgent hearing on the ground that the PSU financial institutions had lent money to Aircel.

The apex court had earlier taken a tough stand and restrained transfer of 2G licences from Malaysia’s Maxis, which was originally allotted to Aircel, to any other telecom firms.

It had said the Malaysian businessman T Ananda Krishnan, the owner of Maxis Group, and Ralph Marshall, an officer of the company, will have to make an appearance before it on February 3 otherwise the 2G licences granted to Aircel shall be seized.

Rohatgi told the bench, also comprising Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, that the banks, having substantial exposure in the telecom company would be an affected party.