After Raja, Kalaignar TV next on CBI list

The decision to leave Kalaignar TV-DB Realty money trail out of the first chargesheet filed in the 2G scam was taken after a final review of evidence in this regard, top CBI sources told HT on Monday.

The decision to leave Kalaignar TV-DB Realty money trail out of the first chargesheet filed in the 2G scam was taken after a final review of evidence in this regard, top CBI sources told HT on Monday.

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The review found that there was a need to strengthen the chain of evidence with regard to the money trail connecting the DMK first family-owned Kalaignar TV to 2G scam accused Shahid Usman Balwa promoted DB Realty.

DMK MP and daughter of party chief M Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi and managing director of the TV channel Sharad Kumar are under the CBI scanner in connection with the transaction of more than R200 crore from DB Realty to Kalaignar TV. Kanimozhi holds 20% stake in the TV venture.

Top sources said they had not looked into the role of two companies — Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables and Cineyug — when the first chargesheet was filed in the court. If the CBI had not filed the chargesheet by April 2, former telecom minister A Raja and other co-accused would have got mandatory bail as the 60-day period for filing charges would have ended.

“We hope to finish the investigation in the Kalaignar TV money trail very soon and this aspect of investigation will figure in the supplementary chargesheet, which the probe agency has to file by April 25,” sources said.

Sources said the first chargesheet was almost complete, by the time the CBI filed its status report on March 29 in the Supreme Court. In fact, they just had to add a “few lines here and there” to make a chargesheet out of the status report.

According to sources, there was only one message to the investigation team from the CBI top brass: “Do your job honestly and deliver the results. We are here to handle the pressure.”

Giving insight into what was happening in the CBI during the 2G probe, sources said

with top corporate honchos being questioned and the SC monitoring the probe, pressure was part and parcel of the game. But the investigation team was promised that the pressure would not trickle down to them.

CBI’s reasons

The CBI reviewed the evidence it had on Kalaignar TV-DB Realty money trail

The review found that they needed to strengthen the chain of evidence in the money trail connecting the two

If the CBI had not filed the chargesheet by April 2, Raja and other co-accused would have got mandatory bail as the 60-day period for filing charges would have ended.