Advertisment

2G scam: CBI charges Kanimozhi with conspiracy

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Putting an end to the speculation as to whether Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, will be named in the 2G spectrum scam by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the investigating agency on Monday filed a supplementary chargesheet, which named the Rajya Sabha MP as a co-conspirator with A Raja in the 2G scam.

Advertisment

The new chargesheet, which was filed by the CBI in a Delhi court, also named named four other co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam.

The supplementary chargesheet, the second thus far, filed by the premier probe agency in a special court here also names as co-accused Sharad Kumar of Kalaignar TV, Karim Morani of Cineyug Films, and Asif Balwa and Rajiv B. Agarwal of Kusegaon Realty.

When asked about the chargesheet Kanimozhi, who is in Chennai, declined to make any comment.

Advertisment

However, Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, who is the step mother of Kanimozhi, has not been named in the 2G case. Earlier the CBI had searched the houses and offices of Kanimozhi and her mother. Dayaluammal owns 60 per cent stake in the TV channel promoted by Karunanidhi family, while Kanimozhi owns another 20 per cent.

The CBI on February 18 raided the office of Kalaignar TV in connection with the scam. The channel is under the CBI scanner for its Rs.200 crore loan transaction with Cineyug Films which is connected to Shahid Usman Balwa of Swan Telecom, another co-accused in the scam.

However, Kalaignar TV denied any link between the Rs.200 crore loan it got from Cineyug Communications and the 2G spectrum allocation.

Advertisment

The probe agency had first named as accused former communications minister A. Raja, his personal aide R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa.

Later, five more corporate executives were added to the list as co-accused -- Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom, Sanjay Chandra of Unitech and three officials of Anil Ambani Group: Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara.

All nine are in judicial custody.

Advertisment

The case involves award of telecom spectrum to private players, which the investigative agency says was done in a fraudulent manner, causing losses worth billions of rupees to the exchequer.

The case had taken a serious turn after Raja, a leader of the DMK, resigned on November 14 as communications minister. This was after the official auditor held that his policy on spectrum allocation had led to a loss of several billion dollars to the exchequer.

While the former minister was arrested by the probe agency in the national capital on February 2, along with Behura and Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoter Balwa was arrested from Pune on February 8.

Raja, his aide and officials from the Department of Telecom (DoT) face charges for their roles in awarding radio frequency. The former minister also faces charges of forgery, while Chandolia and Behura have been accused of misusing their official positions.

(With inputs from IANS) 

tech-news