Morani helped pals Balwa, Goenka

Karim Morani, director of Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd and a co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam, joined hands with DB Realty's promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka in making illegal gratification to Kalaignar TV to help his childhood friends, a witness in the case has told the CBI.

Karim Morani, director of Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd and a co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam, joined hands with DB Realty's promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka in making illegal gratification to Kalaignar TV to help his childhood friends, a witness in the case has told the CBI.

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The agency has recorded the statement of Mohamed Gulamali Morani, also a director of Cineyug Films and one of the witnesses in the case, to establish the role of Karim Morani in the scam as the latter went to help DB Realty despite having a total paid up capital of Rs 25.25 crore only.

The CBI in its second charge sheet has alleged that Swan Telecom and Dynamix Realty Promoters - Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka, channelled Rs 200 crore to DMK family run Kalaignar TV, through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd.

Gulamali Morani, the younger brother of the accused, in his statement had told the CBI that Cineyug Film Pvt Ltd's total paid up capital (i.e. total amount of shareholder capital) was Rs 25 lakh in 1997 and was increased to 25.25 crore in 2008.

"Karim Morani had told me that he, on behalf of Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd, wishes to invest a sum of Rs 200 crore in Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd. He also informed me that he is mobilising the said amount through his childhood friend namely Vinod Goenka and Shahid Balwa of DB Group," Gulamali Morani told the CBI.

Karim, who has been issued a charge sheet in the 2G scam by the CBI had negotiated the entire proposal with the parties concerned, he told the agency.

"Shares subscription and shareholders agreement was executed on December 19, 2008, between Cineyug Films and Kalaignar TV and its three promoters namely MK Dalayu, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Sharad Kumar", Morani said in his statement.

He further said that to invest in Kalaignar TV, "Cineyug Films received Rs 206 crore from Kusegaon fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd during December 2008 and August 2008. There was no written agreement for this (till January 27, 2010). I don't know why this agreement was executed so late."