The 2G spectrum allocation scam accused Kanimozhi on Tuesday told the special CBI court that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ministers P. Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal could be called as witnesses to depose before the court on whether loss was incurred by the exchequer in the award of UAS licences and 2G spectrum allocation.
“If the trial [against her] goes on, I will summon the Prime Minister as a witness,” her counsel and senior advocate Sushil Kumar said.
The CBI's case was based on the premise that “a bunch of cheats cheated the nation” by not auctioning the 2G spectrum, he said. “The Prime Minister, the then Finance Minister, and the present Telecom Minister are good enough as witnesses to prove that there was no loss. They have informed the people of India that the government did not incur any loss. So where is the question of loss?”
The three leaders were aware of the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja's decision not to go in for auction.
Ms. Kanimozhi also said the CBI did not have any documentary evidence against her, save two prosecution witnesses who alleged in their statements recorded under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code that she was the “active brain” and took a “keen interest” in the operations of Kalaignar TV.
Counsel said the DMK MP, who held a 20 per cent stake in Kalaignar TV, took part in just three board meetings within a span of two weeks in June 2007. “She is just a shareholder. Holding share does not mean she participated in the day-to-day affairs of the company. She had no knowledge of the Rs.200-crore loan taken by Kalaignar TV from Cineyug,” he said.
Counsel took exception to the CBI describing Ms. Kanimozhi as a “private person” in the charge sheet. Mr. Kumar said the CBI had erred in not seeking sanction from the Rajya Sabha Chairperson to prosecute Ms. Kanimozhi.
Meanwhile, Mr. Raja told Special Judge O. P. Saini that there were some more legal aspects that are yet to be touched by advocates who argued for the 17 accused.
The court has given permission to Mr. Raja to argue after the completion of Ms. Kanimozhi's arguments.
