The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing whether the records of the Registrar of Companies on directors of Kalaignar TV, which allegedly received Rs.200 crore as quid pro quo for then Telecom Minister A. Raja to allot 2G UAS licence, were tampered or not.
Earlier this week, the CBI submitted before the Supreme Court that it has registered a fresh FIR of criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, fake evidence and forgery of documents against certain accused in the 2G spectrum case.
Among those facing prosecution in the 2G case are DMK leader Kanimozhi and the then Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar.
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According to the prosecution, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal held 60 per cent stake in Kalaignar TV, while his daughter Ms. Kanimozhi and Mr. Kumar each held 20 per cent stake. While recording her statement in a Delhi special court last May, Ms. Kanimozhi said she had nothing to do with the management and operations of Kalaignar TV when it received Rs.200 crore.
CBI to probe if records were tampered with
The Central Bureau of Investigation probing the 2G scam is now investigating if Kalaignar TV had intimated the Registrar of Companies the changes among its directors within the stipulated time period and if not, whether records were changed without proper authorisation.
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The agency has initiated the probe largely on the basis of audio evidence purportedly involving Kanimozhi, the then Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar and others. The new FIR, in case the Supreme Court allows the CBI to file it in the special court, may have an impact on the ongoing trial in the 2G case as some of the papers under scrutiny were placed on record as evidence.
The prosecution has alleged that Rs.200 crore was paid to Kalaignar TV in the form of unsecured loan by promoters of Swan Telecom (STPL) using their group entity Dynamix Realty, through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables and Cineyug Films. The illegal gratification was allegedly for and on behalf of the then Telecom Minister, A. Raja, and his associates in lieu of illegal favours extended to STPL for grant of the UAS licence.
The Enforcement Directorate, in its criminal complaint against Mr. Raja and other accused, has alleged that Kalaignar TV later refunded the money [termed proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act] to Dynamix Realty via two other firms to cover their tracks.