Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam member of Parliament Kanimozhi, named in the chargesheet in 2G spectrum case, has been actively involved in the day-to-day affairs of Kalaignar television channel, said one of the directors of the channel.
P Amirtham, director of Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd, who is one of the witnesses in the case, told the Central Bureau of Investigation that Kanimozhi, who had only 20 per cent share in the firm, was actively involved in its day-to-day affair.
CBI has alleged that money associated with the 2G scam reached the Kalaignar TV through a circuitous route in which the companies having stake of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa played a major role. Balwa had allegedly pumped Rs 200 crore.
"On being asked, I state that Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was a founder director of Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd, Chennai. However, she resigned on June 20, 2007 from the board as director because the necessary clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs, were delayed.
"Nevertheless, she used to take keen interest in day-to- day affairs of the company," Amirtham, lined up as 132nd witness, said. He said Kalaignar TV has taken an unsecured loan of Rs 200 crore from Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd at a lower interest rate and the latter was "pressing hard" for refund of the loan amount
"We (Kalaignar TV) refunded the loan amount along with accrued interest to Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd as the lender was pressing hard for the return of the same....The lower interest rate charged by Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd was due to the fact that the amount lend to by them was big i.e. to the tune of Rs 200 crore and the channel enjoyed very high credibility in the market," Amirtham said.
However, he said the initial proposal (by Cineyug Films) was for purchase of equity shares in Kalignar TV but it did not materialise. "In fact, the initial proposal was for acqusition of equity share in Kalaignar Tv Pvt Ltd. However, it did not materialise and the entire amount was converted into Inter Corporate Deposit," he said.
Kanimozhi has been chargesheeted by CBI which accused her of entering into a criminal conspiracy with prime accused former Telecom minister A Raja. She has also been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for taking illegal gratification through Kalaignar TV, run by ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, in which the money related to the 2G scam was routed.
Besides Kanimozhi, four others -- Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar, Karim Morani, director of Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa's cousin Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal, who are directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd -- were named in the second chargesheet filed by the CBI on April 25.
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