Kanimozhi denies of any role in KTV

NEW DELHI: DMK MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, on Thursday claimed innocence before a trial court saying she had no role in the management, administration or day-to-day operations of Kalaignar TV ( KTV).

Daughter of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi also accused the CBI of pressuring the witnesses in the case into deposing against her. Recording her statement before a special CBI court, Kanimozhi also declined to lead defence evidence in the case, adding that prosecution witnesses deposed against her only due to CBI pressure.

According to the CBI, an amount of Rs 200 crore was paid by promoters of Swan Telecom, using their group entity Dynamix Realty, to KTV, through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd. and Cineyug Films as loan application money.

The investigating agency claimed in the charge sheet that the payment was illegal gratification for and on behalf of prime accused, the then communications minister A Raja and his associates in lieu of illegal favours. Replying to over 1700 questions running into 824 pages, Kanimozhi said that though she had 20 percent stakes in KTV, she acted as a director for a short period of two weeks between June 6, 2007 and June 20, 2007.

"I never had anything to do with the management and operations of M/s Kalaignar TV (P) Ltd., except having been a director for a short period of two weeks and being a shareholder. Yet I was arraigned as an accused in the case. After my resigning from directorship on June 20, 2007, I have had no role whatsoever in the management, administration or running of day-to-day operations of the company.

The transactions which are the subject matter of the present case have taken place between December 2008 and February 2011. In the said period I had no role in any manner in the running of the company," Kanimozhi deposed.

Meanwhile, Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, another accused in the case, was reprimanded by the court which said certain answers given by him in response to the court's query were "objectionable".

Special CBI Judge OP Saini observed that there were some errors in Balwa's statement and it has escaped the court's attention as they were "quite longish". "Certain replies have been found to be quite objectionable and, as such, his (Balwa's) further statement has been deferred. Moreover, some errors, also escaped court attention while checking the same on court computer, as the replies were quite longish," the judge said.

The court also observed that some doubt has cropped up regarding the questions being supplied to the accused for recording of their statements under the provisions of the CrPC.

"Statement of accused Balwa recorded partly and thereafter, deferred, as some doubt has cropped up as to whether the questions are in the same format as were supplied to the accused and also as to the replies submitted by the accused in response to the questions in his pen drive, which has been submitted by him in the court and taken on the court computer," the court said.

During the day's proceeding, the court also recorded statements of another accused — Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, who also has 20 percent stakes in KTV. Besides Kanimozhi, former Telecom Minister A Raja and 16 others which includes three companies are facing trial in the case.