HC notice to CBI on bail plea of Kanimozhi in 2G case

HC notice to CBI on bail plea of Kanimozhi in 2G case 

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the CBI on the bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar in the 2G spectrum case.

"Issue notice to the CBI for 30^th May," Justice Ajit Bharihoke, who on Monday dismissed the bail pleas of five corporate honchos in the case, said.

The court also asked the probe agency to file a status report detailing the stage of investigation and the judicial proceedings in the case on the next date of hearing.

Kanimozhi, the 43-year-old daughter of DMK Supremo M Karunanidhi, and Sharad Kumar had approached the high court yesterday with their bail applications after the special CBI court order their "forthwith" arrest on 20^th May.

Rejecting their bail applications, the special court had said that the offence attributed to them was grave and the possibility of influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out.

Kanimozhi, who sought bail in the Special Court on ground of being a woman, had approached the high court seeking relief citing the need to look after her school-going child who is devoid of the care of his father working abroad.

"The petitioner (Kanimozhi) is having a single school- going child to be taken care of. Her husband is employed abroad and the court should grant bail to her," said the bail plea, filed by the daughter of the DMK patriarch through advocates V G Pragasam, S J Aristotle and Sudarshan Rajan.

Kanimozhi and Kumar were named in the CBI charge sheet for allegedly receiving a kick back to tune of Rs 200 crore.

Court denies bail to Shahid Balwa, his two associates

A Delhi court dismissed the bail pleas of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, his cousin Asif Balwa and their associate Rajeev Agarwal in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

"All the three bail pleas are dismissed," Special CBI Judge O P Saini said.

Asif and Rajeev are the directors of DB Realty group firm--Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd which was allegedly used in a "circuitous manner" for transfer of Rs 200 crore as a kickback to DMK-run Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd.

They are accused of playing key roles in the transfer of Rs 200 crore bribe to Kalaignar TV through various firms promoted by Shahid Usman Balwa.

Shahid was arrested on February 8 while Asif and Rajeev were arrested by the CBI on March 29 and they are currently in Tihar Jail. Rajeev is also the director of Conwood Constructions and Developers Pvt Ltd (a partner of Dynamix Realty).

Shahid allegedly is direct beneficiary of the 2G spectrum allocation scam with his firm Swan Telecom having been alloted the spectrum licence as per a criminal conspiracy hatched by him along with former Telecom Minister A Raja and others.

While opposing the bail pleas of the trio, Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit had submitted that Dynamix Realty acquired 49 per cent shares in Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd (held by co-accused Karim Morani) only subsequent to the transfer of the bribe money and they all were the umbrella companies of DB Realty.

He had also rebutted the submission of the defence that the alleged "illegal gratification" of Rs 200 crore was actually for the shares of Kalaignar TV and the same was called back after the valuation of the share was higher than assessed and Rs 200 crore would not have fetched good shares.