Balwa facilitated transaction to Kalaignar TV: CBI to court

NEW DELHI: Swam Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa had facilitated the transaction of around Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd owned by close associates of former Telecom Minister A Raja, CBI told a Delhi court today.

The probe agency, while opposing the bail plea of Balwa who is in judicial custody in 2G spectrum allocation case, said the industrialist had made the transaction with Kalaignar TV after getting the licenses relating to the radio waves.

Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd belonged to Sharad Kumar and others, who are closely associated with Raja, while the funds were arranged by Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd from DB Group companies in which family members of Balwa are either Directors or shareholders, the agency said.

CBI alleged Balwa had manipulated various things to get the licenses.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini, who was hearing the arguments on the bail applications filed by Balwa and Raja's former Personal Secretary R K Chandolia, later reserved the order for tomorrow.

CBI opposed the bail plea saying the offence was of serious in nature.

"In such a case, bail should not be granted to the accused (Balwa and Chandolia) as they are influential and can temper with the evidences and witnesses," CBI said.