BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Chennai: A CBI team today questioned Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi, who is also Rajya Sabha MP, his wife Dayalu Ammal and Sharad Kumar, managing director of the family-owned Kalaignar TV. The questioning of Karunanidhi’s clan members by the agency comes in the run-up to assembly elections a month away.
The CBI team, comprising four members and led by an officer who had questioned former telecom minister A Raja, arrived at the Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in the city, at about 10.45am and interrogated the three for about two hours.
The probe focussed on the Rs 206-crore transaction to Kalaignar TV in 2009, arranged by DB Group, which owns Swan Telecom, one of the biggest beneficiaries of the 2G spectrum allocation by Raja. While Dayalu Ammal, who was accompanied by Karunanidhi’s nephew Amirtham, was questioned for about half-an-hour, Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar, who arrived together, were quizzed for about two hours, 11.30am onwards.
Karunanidhi, who was at Anna Arivalayam interviewing candidates, waited for the questioning of his daughter to end before leaving the premises. Kanimozhi’s car joined the CM’s convoy and the two headed for their CIT Colony residence where they are said to have discussed the issue.
Later, Kanimozhi told reporters, “We are cooperating with the CBI. They wanted a few clarifications based on what Sharad had told them. They wanted us to substantiate some facts and clarify. We have done that. No documents were taken.” Sources said Kanimozhi was also questioned about her conversations in the Niira Radia tapes.
A source said the CBI official asked Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar about 20 questions each. The team sought clarifications from Sharad on how he managed to return the funds, with interest, to the DB Group and asked for material evidence, including receipts. Every reply was recorded and typed by a woman officer. When Dayalu Ammal was questioned, Kanimozhi and Sharad helped translate her replies that were in Tamil. Kalaignar TV is part owned by Kanimozhi, who holds 20% shares, and Dayalu Ammal, who has a 60% stake.
