Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi on Friday pleaded ignorance of the Rs.200-crore transfer from Dynamix Realty to Kalaignar TV.
Her high-profile lawyer, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, blamed the channel's managing director Sharad Kumar and the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja, co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam case, for the money transfer.
Ms. Kanimozhi, Rajya Sabha member, holds a 20 per cent stake in the channel. She was summoned to the special court for the first time after having been chargesheeted on April 25.
Arguing her case, Mr. Jethmalani invoked “the Victorian sense of chivalry” towards women and her “motherhood and clean record” to enlarge her on bail. Arguments on her bail plea were adjourned to Saturday.
Quoting from the CBI's supplementary charge sheet, Mr. Jethmalani noted that Mr. Kumar had chaired all the Board meetings and signed all agreements with Cineyug Films on behalf of the company and its other directors. He challenged the CBI to produce evidence of Ms. Kanimozhi's involvement, claiming that she was not involved in the day-to-day affairs of the company.
Counsel pointed to the role of Mr. Raja in the transfer of Rs.200 crore from Dynamix Realty to Kalaignar TV. However, he told Special Judge O. P. Saini that his arguments must not prejudice the cases of the other accused.
Referring to the charge sheet dubbing Ms. Kanimozhi the “active brain,” Mr. Jethmalani said: “Her misfortune is that she is M. Karunanidhi's daughter and a Member of Parliament. What has her active brain done? Show me one piece of evidence. They have only made dishonest statements in the charge sheet.”
“If there is one person in this case against whom there is no case of any kind, it is this woman… Her offence is that she is a shareholder. She is not even a majority shareholder. She has only 20 per cent equity… Not a single piece of paper has been signed by her. Not a single Board meeting has been attended by her,” he said.
Mr. Jethmalani asked the CBI to prove that “she represented the directing will and mind of the company and controlled what the company did.” He concluded, saying: “It is almost impossible to obtain conviction in this case. If a person is not arrested, has not absconded, not interfered with evidence, bail is a right. At least treat it as a reward – a reward for her sex, her motherhood, and for her clean record.”
Mr. Kumar was represented by senior advocate Altaf Ahmad and co-accused Asif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal by advocate Vijay Aggarwal. Mr. Vijay Aggarwal was fiercely critical of the CBI for “arresting his clients” while being more lenient towards Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra, Mr. Kumar and Ms. Kanimozhi.
Ms. Kanimozhi was accompanied by eight Tamil Nadu MPs and a few dozen party workers led by the former Union Minister, T.R. Baalu, and senior DMK leader T. K. S. Elangovan.
Ms. Kanimozhi presented a calm demeanour in the court. While leaving, she briefly exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Raja.
