2G chargesheet a publicity exercise: DMK

Shortly after the Central Bureau of Investigation filed the additional chargesheet in a Delhi court, top DMK brass including patriarch Karunanidhi went into a huddle at his residence in Chennai to take stock of the situation.

In tandem, the DMK announced the convening of the high-level committee, while noting that the issue of questioning of Kanimozhi and Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu had been made a "publicity exercise of gargantuan proportions."

"Even after it had been proved in a transparent manner that the Rs 200 crore loan given by a firm (DB Reality to Kalaingar TV) was returned with interest and that there was nothing hanky panky and no conspiracy, Dayalu and Kanimozhi were questioned by the CBI," a DMK statement said.

As the stage was set for CBI to file a chargesheet including Kanimozhi's name, raising questions about its political fallout, Karunanidhi earlier parried questions about DMK mulling quitting the UPA ministry in the event of his family members' names figuring in the chargesheet. Responding to speculation about DMK's possible exit from the UPA cabinet, he shot back "Is that your desire?"

"Being a woman, you should not talk as if you are heartless," he said when women reporters persisted with their queries about 2G and his equations with the UPA.

In an immediate fallout of the chargesheet, DMK General Secretary K Anbalagan said, "The high-level committee will meet at 10 am on April 27 to discuss and decide the future course of action."

He said the recent questioning of Dayalu, Kanimozhi and Sarath Kumar, who hold stakes in the Kalaingar TV, had been highly publicised blowing it out of proportions despite the channel providing all documents to show that the Rs 200 crore "loan" had been returned to the firm -- DB Reality.

The naming of Kanimozhi and Sarath Kumar, MD of the channel, in the charge sheet had also been given high publicity, the release said. Under the given circumstances, the party had convened the high-level committee meeting, he said.  

The CBI has accused Kanimozhi, Rajya Sabha MP, of entering into a criminal conspiracy with prime accused former telecom minister A Raja besides charging her under the Prevention of Corruption Act for taking illegal gratification through Kalaignar TV. However, the supplementary charge sheet does not name the Dayalu as an accused but mentioned her as one of the witnesses in the case.