Kanimozhi in charge sheet: DMK to face issue legally

Expressing surprise over the inclusion of the party's Rajya Sabha Member Kanimozhi in the supplementary charge sheet in the 2G spectrum allocation case, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's high-level committee declared on Wednesday that it would face the situation legally.

A resolution passed at its 90-minute meeting at the DMK headquarters, chaired by its president and Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, alleged that ever since the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had observed that the exchequer suffered a loss to the tune of several crores of rupees in the allocation of 2G spectrum, there had been attempts by a dominant section to use the issue as a “political chessboard.”

Based on this, an investigation was launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and former Telecom Minister A. Raja and directors of various companies were arrested and lodged in the Tihar jail. It was surprising to note that the names of Kanimozhi, a stakeholder in Kalaignar TV, and Sharad Kumar, director in the television company, figured in the charge sheet, even though the channel had explained that it had only taken a loan of Rs.200 crore from another company and that it had repaid the amount with interest and submitted the relevant details to the Income Tax Department.

The resolution also charged the media with blowing this issue out of proportion, seizing it as an opportunity to tarnish the DMK leadership's image. Attempts were being made to make it a political issue and cause loss of trust among constituents of the Democratic Progressive Alliance in a bid to break the alliance.

It alleged that “certain political leaders whose culture and way of life is corruption” and sections of the media bent upon toppling the DMK and Mr. Karunanidhi were trying to exploit this (2G spectrum issue) in order to rattle the party. The DMK would not wilt under this propaganda blitz. As it was confident that justice would be ultimately established, the party decided to handle this issue through legal means, the resolution added.

Later speaking to the press, Mr. Karunanidhi refused to say anything on the 2G spectrum issue and how the CBI was acting in this regard, except reiterating that everything would be handled legally.

On whether Ms. Kanimozhi and Mr. Sharad Kumar would seek anticipatory bail, Mr. Karunanidhi said it was for the lawyers to decide on this. Will she respond to the summons issued by a Delhi court to appear before it on May 6? “She is not like Jayalalithaa (former Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary) to avoid court appearances,” he retorted.