2G: Kusegoan officials question CBI charges

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Seeking their discharge in the 2G spectrum allocation case , two officials of Kusegoan Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd., Asif Balwa and Rajiv B. Aggarwal, on Tuesday questioned in a court here the CBI's charges against them related to two money transactions.

Both the accused have been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for routing Rs.200 crore bribe to a TV channel.

Balwa and Aggarwal, directors of Kusegoan, informed CBI Special Judge O.P. Saini that the probe agency was linking them in two separate money transactions - one, between Dubai-based Etisalat and Swan Telecom and another between Dynamix Realty to Kusegaon - to prove its case.

"These two are independent transactions which the CBI has been linking. The CBI has connected the transactions between Etisalat and Swan and the one between Dynamix and Kusegoan even when there is no relation," said Vijay Aggarwal, counsel for Balwa and Aggarwal.

The CBI alleged that Shahid Usman Balwa, promoter of Swan Telecom and prime accused in 2G scam, rooted Rs.209 crore from Dynamix Realty to Kusegaon Fruits as bribe which finally reached Kalaignar TV.

"The offloading of equity by Swan Telecom, now Etisalat DB, to Etisalat after receiving Rs.3,228 crore and alleged bribe trail of Rs.200 crore are two separate transactions and unconnected with each other," said defence lawyer.

Both the accused have been charge sheeted for routing Rs.200 crore bribe to Kalaignar TV in which DMK MP Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar and DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal hold 20, 20 and 60 percent stakes, respectively.