2G scam: SC adjourns Kanimozhi, Kumar’s bail hearing

The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing of the bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar, accused of accepting and channelling bribe money in the 2G spectrum scam, to 20 June. 

Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, and Kumar moved the Supreme Court after the Delhi high court rejected their bail plea on 8 June on the ground that they could influence witnesses if set free.

A vacation bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar took up the matter, and issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation asking it to file its response on the bail pleas by next Monday. 

The apex court asked the CBI to inform it what has happened to the Rs200 crore allegedly given to Kalaignar TV by Cineyug Films, and also asked the probe agency to state the loss incurred by exchequer in granting licences to telecom companies during jailed former telecom minister A Raja's tenure. 

Kanimozhi and Kumar were named as accused in the Central Bureau of Investigation's second charge-sheet. They are accused of colluding with Raja, also of the DMK, to take a Rs214-crore bribe in return for allocation of radio spectrum. The two were arrested on 20 May after a special CBI court dismissed their bail pleas.

Kanimozhi and Kumar have 20 per cent stake each in Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd, which is wholly owned by the Karunanidh family.

Kanimozhi's lawyer had applied for bail in the high court on the grounds that she needs to look after her young son, since her husband travels abroad frequently for work. It is not yet clear what their appeal before the apex court hinges on.