CBI quizzes 2 Kanimozhi confidants on land deal

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has questioned Chennaibased chartered accountant Ratnam and businessman S Sarvanan — said to be close to DMK leader Kanimozhi — for their alleged involvement in a land deal.

The duo was said to be the main intermediaries in the sale of a prized piece of land on Chennai’s Anna Salai Marg. The 53,000 square feet property, linked to the 2G spectrum allocation scam, was sold in 2009 to Malaysia-based businessman Shanmuganathan for Rs 25 crore, when the prevailing market price was Rs 200 crore.

CBI questioned two persons to find out the identity of the actual owners of the land, according to a source in the investigation agency. `We want to find out whether DMK had anything to do with the deal, and whether the Tatas played a role in it.” Voltas, a Tata company, has the leasehold of the property since 1975. When the controversy over its ownership erupted late last year, it clarified that it had neither bought nor sold the land, as it had been occupying it on lease, continuously, since 1975.

On the expire of its 30-year lease in 2005, it had filed a suit for renewal for a further period as the owners didn't renew it. It deposited the lease amount with the income-tax authorities since 1983. “Rent continues to be paid till date and Voltas' petition seeking renewal of the lease by the landlords is pending adjudication by Madras High Court. The matter is sub-judice, and we have nothing further to add,” the company had said.

While Voltas tried to renew the land lease, its ownership changed hands. Between April and August, 2008, all 17 people who jointly own the land gave a power of attorney to Sarvanan, an aide of Kanimozhi and her mother Rajathi Ammal. On April 27, 2009, Saravanan executed the sale to a company called Shangkalpam Industries said to be owned by Shanmuganathan.