The Central Bureau of Investigation will seek clarification from the UB Group and India Cements on the money they allegedly gave Kalaignar TV to apparently help the channel return over Rs. 200 crore received by it from the DB Group of companies in return for 2G spectrum allocation.
The agency, which may file another charge sheet in the 2G spectrum case in July first week, is looking into the financial transactions of Kalaignar TV, in which DMK MP Kanimozhi and Managing Director Sharad Kumar are stakeholders, top CBI sources said.
Both are now lodged in the Tihar jail for their alleged involvement in the scam.
The sources said the CBI, during the probe, came to know that some payments had been made by the UB Group and India Cements to the Tamil channel and these, according to the agency, were to help it return the money received from Cineyug. A clarification would soon be sought from both companies.
The sources, however, said seeking clarification did not mean some criminality had been identified.
When contacted, India Cements vice-chairman and managing director N. Srinivasan said he was not aware of the development.
In a statement, Prakash Mirpuri, vice-president, Corporate Communications, said: “The UB Group would like to clarify that the only commercial transaction that it has with Kalaignar TV is a regular advertising contract which is in the ordinary course of business. Any speculation or suggestion of any other financial transaction in the nature of a loan to Kalaignar TV is completely untrue. We would be happy to clarify the same if and when any agency contacts us.”
The CBI, in its second charge sheet, said over Rs. 200 crore in illegal gratification was paid by Dynamix Realty to Kalaignar TV through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd and Cineyug Films.
The agency has alleged that a number of circumstances conclusively establish that the Rs. 200 crore paid by Dynamix Realty to Kalaignar TV through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables and Cineyug “was not a genuine business transaction. ... but in the nature of illegal gratification paid in lieu of the UAS licences, valuable spectrum and other undue benefit given by the accused public servants to Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd.”
