Kanimozhi was not taking interest in KTV's affairs: Witness

NEW DELHI: A prosecution witness today told a Delhi court that DMK MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in the 2G spectrum case, was not actively involved in the day-to-day affairs of Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd which had allegedly received Rs 200 crore from a partnership firm of Swan Telecom.

Kalaignar TV Director P Amirtham deposed in the special CBI court that Kanimozhi was initially "very reluctant" to join Kalaignar TV but under pressure of her father and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi, she agreed to it.

CBI had claimed that during the probe, Amirtham had said that Kanimozhi was taking keen interest in the day-to-day affairs of the channel.

During cross examination by senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who appeared for Kanimozhi, Amirtham said that throughout his tenure with the channel, he had not seen "any resolution or document by which powers of any kind were conferred on Kanimozhi"

Jethmalani, who contested CBI's contention that Kanimozhi was taking keen interest in day-to-day affairs of the channel, asked Amirtham whether the agency's view was correct.

The witness rebutted CBI's statement. "The statement has been has been recorded without my knowledge," he told Special CBI Judge O P Saini after Jethmalani referred to the statement given by him to the CBI.

The CBI had chargesheeted Kanimozhi alleging that Rs 200 crore "illegal gratification" was routed from Dynamix Realty to the TV channel through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd.

According to the CBI, Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Amma, his daughter Kanimozhi and co-accused Sharad Kumar have 60, 20 and 20 per cent shares of the channel respectively.

Kanimozhi, along with others, including former Telecom Minister A Raja, is facing trial in the case for various offences punishable under the IPC and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
During the recording of the statement, which would continue on March 18, Amirtham said that he was appointed as a director in Kalaignar TV on May 28, 2010 and Dayalu Amma is his maternal uncle's wife while Kanimozhi is her step- daughter.

He said that Kanimozhi had resigned as director of the channel on June 20, 2007 and "after her resignation from the board of the company and her appointment as a Rajya Sabha MP, she did not involve herself in the decision-making."

During the proceedings, special public prosecutor U U Lalit told the witness that he was "deposing falsely" in the court to "save" Kanimozhi as he was resiling from the statement given to the CBI earlier regarding her involvement in the day-to-day affairs of the channel. Amirtham, however, denied the same.

Amirtham also told the court that due to the need for funds, the transaction between the channel and Cineyug Films (P) Limited took place.

The court proceedings today saw the use of a translator for the first time in the case as Amirtham had told the judge that he does not understand English as well as Hindi.

He had sent a request to the court for providing him a Tamil translator.

The court had asked the CBI and accused persons to bring atleast one person who is well versed with both the languages.

Chenthil Kumar, a CBI prosecutor, and S Shunmugasundaram, a senior advocate, were present in the court for translation.

"Though I am prima facie satisfied that the witness understands English, but in view of the request made by the witness for providing facility of translator, his request stands allowed," the judge said.