SC adjourns Kanimozhi bail plea; questions CBI on status of Rs 200 crore allegedly given to Kalaignar TV
The Supreme Court on Monday said corruption was the worst form of "human rights violation" and asked CBI to quantify the losses to the exchequer on account of the 2G scam, even as it deferred the bail pleas of Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar to June 20.
The SC also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the alleged 2G scam on the status of the Rs 200 crore given to DMK-party owned Kalaignar TV. The apex court also asked the investigating agency for a status report of the ongoing 2G scam trial in the CBI special court. The CBI has been asked to file its response within a week.
Last week, the Delhi Court had dismissed the bail plea of plea Kanimozhi, the daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, citing her political connections and expressing fears that she may influence witnesses and interfere with the ongoing investigations. The court had also dismissed the bail plea of Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar.
Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar hold 20% stake each in the DMK-controlled Kalaignar TV, were arrested last month, after the Central Bureau of Investigation charged them of accepting Rs 209 crore as 'illegal gratification' or bribes from DB Group in returns for favours former telecoms minister A Raja had extended to that company and helping it obtain a telecoms licence. The CBI has charged that this payment was meant as a quid pro quo for lucrative telecom licences that DB Realty-owned Swan won in 13 circles.
The CBI special court that is handling the 2G case trials earlier had thrown out their bail pleas on May 20 forcing the duo to approach the Delhi High Court.
CBI in its chargesheet said that the grant of UAS Licences and airwaves caused a loss of about Rs 30,000 crore to the exchequer. The country's national auditor pegged this loss at Rs 1.76 lakh crore, or $ 40 billion, more than the size of India's defence budget this year.
