2G case: Raja, Kanimozhi, seven others seek bail
The accused moved their bail pleas which have been fixed for hearing on 28 May
New DelhiI: Former telecom minister A. Raja, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and seven other accused, chargesheeted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a 2G scam-related money laundering case, on Monday moved bail applications before a Delhi court.
The accused, who appeared before the court in pursuance to the summons issued against them, moved their bail pleas which have been fixed for hearing on 28 May. DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal, also an accused in the case, did not appear before the court and her counsel moved a plea seeking exemption from personal appearance on the ground that she was not in a “fit mental condition".
The court allowed Ammal’s plea for exemption from personal appearance for the day. Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O.P. Saini directed ED to supply all the documents related to the case to all the accused.
“Since the documents are voluminous, the accused submit that at least two days time is required for scrutiny. Put up for scrutiny of documents/consideration of bail applications on 28 May," the judge said.
Besides Raja and Kanimozhi, Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. LtdAsif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal, Bollywood producer Karim Morani, Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar and P. Amirtham also appeared before the court and moved their bail pleas.
They were also summoned as accused by the court which had taken cognisance of the ED’s charge sheet filed against 19 accused—10 individuals and nine companies. The court has held that there was “enough incriminating material" on record to proceed against them. ED has also named as accused Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd, Kusegaon Realty Pvt. Ltd (formerly known as Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd), Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd (formerly known as Cineyug Films Pvt. Ltd), Kalaignar TV Pvt. Ltd, Dynamix Realty, Eversmile Construction Company Pvt. Ltd, Conwood Constructions and Developers (P) Ltd, DB Realty Ltd and Nihar Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
The representatives of the nine firms appeared before the court. The money laundering case relates to the 2G scam in which the DMK-run Kalaignar TV was allegedly paid ₹ 200 crore by the promoters of Swan Telecom. ED has claimed that the transaction of ₹ 200 crore, which was allegedly paid to DMK-run Kalaignar TV, was “not genuine" and it was a “bribe for grant of telecom licences to DB Group companies".
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