2G: Raja, Kanimozhi, et al charged with money laundering

A special court in New Delhi has charged former telecom minister A Raja, Kanimozhi, an MP and daughter of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, Dayalu Ammal, Karunanidhi's wife, and 16 others with money laundering in a 2G spectrum-related case.

All the accused have pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to begin on 11 November.

The Enforcement Directorate said in its charge sheet that the accused were involved in a multi-crore transaction between a Karunanidhi family-run TV outfit and benefactors of spectrum allocation.

The transaction was not "bona fide" or "genuine" and it was a "bribe for grant of telecom licences to DB Group companies" by Raja, the ED alleged.

The agency had claimed that the series of transactions relating to the transfer of Rs200 crore from a DB group company to the DMK-run Kalaignar TV through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd were not "genuine business transactions".

The accused contend there is no evidence to support the allegations levelled by the agency in its charge-sheet.

The counsel appearing for Raja and Kanimozhi had argued that documents filed with the ED's complaint nowhere show that they were connected with Rs200-crore flow from DB to Kalaignar TV.

Similarly, other co-accused, including Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka argued that there were no evidence to connect them with the alleged crime and its proceeds.

According to the ED, Kanimozhi and co-accused Sharad Kumar, MD of Kalaignar TV, held a 20 per cent stake each in the TV channel while Dayalu Ammal held the remaining 60 per cent.

All those accused in the case are presently out on bail, after having spent months in prison.