DMK's soft corner for Shourie?

NEW DELHI: The DMK representative on the JPC probing the 2G scam on Tuesday set tongues wagging by taking strong exception to CBI chief A P Singh naming Arun Shourie , the telecom minister under NDA, among persons CBI plans to quiz in connection with its investigations into the spectrum case.

T R Baalu asked Singh why he was mentioning ministers by name, leaving other members of the joint parliamentary committee puzzled. The DMK has, while denying any wrongdoing on the part of former telecom minister A Raja, maintained he was carrying out policies framed under the NDA in what was seen as an attempt to scatter the blame for the spectrum scam.

The backdrop led members to wonder whether Baalu's aim in raising objection to the CBI chief's reference to Shourie was meant to pre-empt any mention of Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran. Maran has been under fire because he allegedly forced the original promoter of Aircel, C Sivasankaran, to sell out to Malaysian telecom company Maxis.

In his deposition, the CBI chief confirmed the Aircel-Maxis deal was being probed. Singh mentioned licence for Loop Telecom, and the Unitech-Tata deal under which Tata Realty gave a loan to the real estate firm promoted by the Chandras, among the unfinished business of the agency.

Besides, the allegation whether Voltas was goaded to vacate a prime plot in Chennai as part of a quid pro quo, is among the pending business of the agency, the CBI chief told the JPC.

Baalu's objection to Shourie's reference came a day after DMK boss M Karunanidhi alleged his daughter Kanimozhi, an accused in the 2G case, was in jail either because of the UPA's instructions or due to its indifference. Relations between the DMK and UPA may get more strained if Kanimozhi fails to get bail and if Dayanidhi Maran is also forced to resign from the Cabinet.