2G SPECTRUM SCAM CASE: Manmohan could be called as witness, Kanimozhi tells court!

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Jiby Kattakayam, The Hindu / NEW DELHI, August 23, 2011.

Former DMK MP Kanimozhi on her way to the Patiala House Court for a CBI Special Court hearing in New Delhi. File photo - The Hindu.

Rajya Sabha member and 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 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, while arguing against the charges slapped by the CBI on Ms. Kanimozhi.

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 at that time, 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 an auction.

Ms. Kanimozhi also alleged that 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 “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, following which she dissociated from the day-to-day affairs of the TV network.

“Just a shareholder”

“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.

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