BeyondHeadlines

Tag: Kanimozhi

  • Jayalalithaa Meets PM, Demands Resignation of Textile Minister Maran, Home Minister Chidambaram

    Jayalalithaa Meets PM, Demands Resignation of Textile Minister Maran, Home Minister Chidambaram

    BeyondHeadlines  Staff Reporter

    New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence at 7 Race Course Road in New Delhi. She demanded the resignations of Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran for his alleged role in favouring Malaysian company Maxis Communication and Home Minister P Chidambaram, accusing him of securing a fraudulent victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

    Courtesy: IBN

    Addressing a press conference after the meeting, she said that she had full faith in the judicial system and hoped that the culprits would be punished in the 2G spectrum scam case.

    “Maran should step down. If he is willing to do so then the prime minister should drop him from his Council of Ministers,” said Jayalalithaa.

    Maran allegedly arm twisted Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stake to Maxis and in return the Malaysian company reportedly invested close to Rs 600 crore in Maran family owned Sun TV.

    Jayalalithaa pointed out that the 2G scam was being probed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the arrest of DMK leaders in connection with the scam had got nothing to do with Tamil Nadu politics.

    “The DMK is paying the price for what they have done. None of these cases on them have been initiated by me or my party. This has been done by the Centre. So there is no question of being vindictive,” she replied when asked about the 2G scam and the involvement of DMK leaders in it.

    Coming down heavily on Chidambaram she accused him of playing “a fraud on the nation” and alleged that there were irregularities during the counting at Sivaganga constituency from where Chidambaram was elected. A petition challenging Chidambaram’s election is pending before the Madras High Court.

    “Chidambaram lost the election in 2009 and AIADMK candidate won. The case is in the court. There is no softening in our stand,” she said.

    In her first meeting with the Prime Minister after her victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, she said she does not want a confrontation with the Centre and said that it was too premature to think about joining the United Progressive Alliance. She also refused to comment on DMK’s ties with the UPA and said that she wanted friendly ties with the UPA in the interest of her state.

    “No one from UPA has approached me for an alliance. The Congress has made it clear that it continues to have an alliance with the DMK. So both are still partners in the UPA Government. So the question of my offer doesn’t arise. If anyone wants my support, they will have to ask for it. You cannot ask on their behalf. In such a situation it not appropriate for me to call (Congress President) Sonia Gandhi,” she replied when asked to comment on reports of the AIADMk trying to come close to the UPA.

     

  • Rethink Over Strategy in South: Congress Mouthpiece

    Rethink Over Strategy in South: Congress Mouthpiece

    BeyondHeadlines  News Desk

    New Delhi: Congress party is considering a “relook” at their strategy in south.  It blamed the Karunanidhi led Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) for the alliance’s drubbing in recently concluded assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

    Bitter Alliance?

    The editorial in party’s mouthpiece, Sandesh was vocal enough to declare that it does not want to lose its votes due to “mistakes of its coalition partners”.

    The timing of the editorial is crucial as DMK is holding a meeting to discuss future of alliance in the backdrop of his daughter’s bail plea repeatedly rejected in the 2G spectrum scam. DMK patriarch Karunanidhi has openly accused the Congress led governemtn for his daughter’s trail. “My daughter is in jail because of the Centre’s orders or its complacency,” he said.

    Sandesh’ editorial said, “The results in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were affected by the 2G scam and these states were lost to other parties.”

    Another article read, “The Congress has to have another look at their strategy in the southern state. It must not lose its vote bank due to the mistakes of its coalition partners,” adding that “a lot of good work done by the ruling party was lost in the public anger against the alleged huge loss to the exchequer being attributed to a DMK minister.”

    The crux of the latest issue was that “There is a strong need to revive the fortunes of the party at the grassroots once again.”

    There also talks that if DMK withdraws support the government will be saved from forcing Dayanidhi Maran to resign.

     

  • DMK Holds Top-Level Meeting to Decide Alliance With Congress Party

    DMK Holds Top-Level Meeting to Decide Alliance With Congress Party

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: A top-level meeting of Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) has been convened today by party chief M Karunanidhi to review DMK’s alliance with the Congress party. A relation between both parties has worsened following the party’s lawmaker Kanimozhi’s arrest and dismissal of bail plea by the Delhi High Court in connection with the much talked 2G spectrum scam.

    Courtesy: The Hindu

    As his patience runs out, the frustrated DMK patriarch, in his first direct attack on the Congress party since the 2G taint touched his doorstep, squarely blamed the Congress for his daughters plight.

    “My daughter is in jail because of the Centre’s orders or its complacency,” said Karunanidhi.

    The statement in Thiruvarur came two days after he warned by saying, “Bad friendships end up in trouble”.

    As Kanimozhi now denied bail by the Delhi High Court too, the party top brass has decided to meet in Chennai.

    Out of power in Tamil Nadu, continuing with the alliance at the Centre may be a political imperative for the DMK. But sources say, a section is in favour of at least considering an exit from the UPA.

    Karunanidhi may opt to withdraw ministers from the Cabinet and provide outside support to the Government – a threat the DMK had held forth earlier but gone back on.

    The other option would be withdrawal support entirely. This extreme step would only leave the DMK more vulnerable, with the party needing the Congress more than the other way.

    Now with Dayanidhi Maran also facing allegation, a section of the family that’s beginning to feel the heat, wants the DMK to break its alliance with the Congress. But the question is whether the party, after its rout in Tamil Nadu, can really afford to lose hold on the Centre. Observers feel, despite its loud posturing, the DMK will not break its alliance in New Delhi.

  • 2G Scam: Kanimozhi Knocks Door of SC for Bail

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar, who are in jail in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, today moved the Supreme Court for bail.
    Their case is expected to be heard on June 13. Their bail plea had been rejected by the Delhi High Court on June 8.

  • DMK Calls Emergency Meeting of Party’s High-Level Committee to Review Ties With Congress Party

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) has convened an emergency meeting of the party high-ups tomorrow to review its alliance with the Congress party. The party made this decision following the rejection of Kanimozhi’s bail petition by the Delhi High Court in the 2G spectrum yesterday.

    This will the first meeting of the party’s high-level committee after the recently concluded polls in the state.

    A release from Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, asked all members of the committee to attend the meeting, which would be presided over by party chief M Karunanidhi.

    According to sources, the meeting is likely to review the party’s ties with the Congress. The DMK’s relationship with its seven-year-old ally Congress has not been smooth ever since the seat-sharing talks began for the Assembly election.

    The DMK patriarch, had on June 5, blamed the Centre for Kanimozhi’s arrest, saying it was either due to its “orders or complacency”.


  • Kanimozhi to Approach Supreme Court Today

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: Following the rejection of her bail plea by the Delhi High Court in the 2G scam, DMK lawmaker Kanimozhi is going to knock the door of the Supreme Court today.

    Both Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar have been behind bars in Tihar Jail since May 20. They were arrested after their names were mentioned in the CBI’s supplementary chargesheet in the 2G scam.

    The high court yesterday rejected Kanimozhi and Kumar’s bail petitions, saying there was prima facie evidence against them.

    The judge said there was enough reason to believe that the accused received illegal gratification of Rs 200 crore in the account of Kalaignar TV and tried to hide the money trail.

    The judge said that if released on bail, Kanimozhi and Kumar could influence witnesses, many of whom work at Kalaignar TV.


  • 2G Scam: Delhi High Court Rejects Bail Plea of DMK MP Kanimozhi, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar

    2G Scam: Delhi High Court Rejects Bail Plea of DMK MP Kanimozhi, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: Giving a major jolt to the expectations of DMK Chief Karunanidhi to see his daughter outside the Tihar Jail, the Delhi High Court today dismissed bail plea of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, accused in the 2G spectrum case, saying there are prima facie evidences against them.

    File photo of Kanimozhi

    India’s premier news agency PTI has quoted Justice Ajit Bharihoke as saying: “There are certain prima facie evidences against the accused. Considering the complicity of the accused in the offence, the bail applications are dismissed.”

    Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal and DMK parliamentary party leader TR Baalu were present in the courtroom when the order was pronounced.

    Kanimozhi, the 43-year-old daughter of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, and Kumar were named by the CBI for allegedly receiving a kick back to tune of Rs 200 crore.

    Both Kanimozhi and Kumar have 20% stake each in Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd which allegedly received Rs200 crore through a “circuitous” route from Shahid Balwa promoted DB Realty.

    DMK chief’s wife Dayalu Ammal, who has been left out of the list of accused, owns the remaining 60% shares in the channel.

    Kanimozhi and Kumar had moved the high court on May 23 challenging the trial court’s order which had rejected their bail pleas, saying the offence attributed to them was grave and the possibility of influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out.

    CBI Special Judge OP Saini had on May 20 rejected the bail pleas of Kanimozhi and Kumar and ordered their “forthwith” arrest. They are currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

    Kanimozhi, who sought bail in the special court on the 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 her care as his father is working abroad.

    Justice Bharihoke had on May 23 dismissed bail pleas of five corporate honchos, including Unitech Group managing director Sanjay Chandra and Reliance ADAG managing director Gautam Doshi in the case, saying there was a possibility that they may influence the witnesses.

  • 2G Scam: Karunanidhi Blames Centre for Kanimozhi Arrest

    2G Scam: Karunanidhi Blames Centre for Kanimozhi Arrest

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: In a bid to defend his jailed daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi for her alleged involvement in 2G spectrum scam, Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief M Karunanidhi yesterday said in his first public meeting after the recently concluded assembly polls in his Tiruvarur Constituency last night that he compelled her to become a stakeholder in Kalaignar TV, to which the money related to the spectrum allocation was routed.
    He said: “Kanimozhi’s mistake is my mistake. It was I who compelled her to become a shareholder in Kalaignar TV with a view to settle her a base for her future.”
    He came down heavily on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and blamed the centre for the arrest of his daughter in the 2G spectrum case. It clearly reflects further strains in his party’s ties with the Congress party.
    “Kanimozhi is in Tihar jail, either it could be due to centre’s order or complacency,” the DMK patriarch said.
    The strain in the DMK’s alliance with the lead UPA partner had come out very clearly during seat-sharing negotiations for the April 13 Assembly polls with the Congress managing to wrest 63 seats from the DMK.
    The 88-year-old former Tamil Nadu chief minister claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the case, had named his daughter since it had to hold someone accountable.
    “What was earlier estimated to be a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore (caused to the exchequer by the alleged wrongful policies of jailed former Telecom Minster A Raja), has now shrunk to Rs 30,000 crore. What affected the company (Kalaignar TV) affected Kanimozhi,” he said.
    Kanimozhi, whom he said had taken all efforts for the party’s victory in the April 13 Assembly polls, was “languishing in Tihar jail,” in conditions not so favourable.
    “The temperature there is such that a flower will dry in 10 minutes if it is kept in the open,” Karunanidhi, who had met his daughter recently there, said.
    He, however, said that his daughter was facing the situation and had asked his elder daughter Selvi to take care of him.
    “She said she was not worried and asked us not to worry as the Dravidian movement had given her the strength,” he said.
    Karunanidhi said before “sorrow destroys” him, he will do all in his might to save and nurture the Dravidian movement.
    Kanimozhi, a minority stake-holder in the channel, has been jailed over transaction of Rs 200 crore from 2G accused Shahid Balwa’s firm, DB Realty.
    While the DMK patriarch started mentioning about his retirement from active politics, he quickly changed track and said that he would not quit from public life (as of now).
  • 2G Scam: Shahid Balwa to Disclose Before JPC

    2G Scam: Shahid Balwa to Disclose Before JPC

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: In a new twist to the 2G spectrum allocation controversy, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa – a co-accused in the case- has expressed his desire to depose before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the matter, reports claimed Wednesday.

    Shahid Usman Balwa is said to have written a letter to the JPC seeking permission to depose before the panel and testify in connection with the high profile case.

    “In the interest of the investigation, I should be called to depose before the JPC. I request you (JPC) to consider my request to depose before the panel at the earliest and at a time of your convenience,” Balwa was quoted as saying in the letter.

    Balwa’s testimony is likely to complicate things for the Congress-led UPA government, which is already fighting to control the damage caused due to the scam, which as per the Comptroller and Auditor General of India caused a loss of Rs 1.77 lakhs crore to the exchequer.

    As per other reports, Balwa may turn approver in the spectrum scam case , which may lead to the revealing of new names in the case.

    Shahid Balwa, director of DB Realty, had floated Swan Telecom, which was a beneficiary of 2G spectrum allocation. It is alleged that Balwa, due to his proximity to then telecom minister A Raja, managed to win 13 of the 22 2G licences across India.

    On May 24, a special CBI court rejected the bail plea of Shahid Balwa.

    Special CBI Judge O P Saini, exclusively dealing with the 2G case, also dismissed the bail pleas of Balwa’s cousin, Asif Balwa and Rajeev Aggarwal, accused of facilitating Rs 200 crore bribe to Kalaignar TV in which DMK MP Kanimozhi holds 20 percent share.

    Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal are directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd in which Shahid Balwa also holds a stake.

    Shahid Balwa is currently lodged in Tihar Jail along with A Raja and other accused.

  • 2G Scam: Delhi High Court Reserves Order on Kanimozhi Bail Plea

    BeyondHeadlines News Desk

    New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today reserved order on the bail plea of DMK lawmaker Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar in the 2G scam. Kanimozhi along with Kumar had moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court’s order against the dismissal of their bail pleas on May 20. Kanimozhi has sought relief on the grounds of having to look after her school going child in the bail application in the court.
    Kanimozhi has been charged as a co-conspirator of former Telecom Minister A Raja in 2G scam.
    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its chargesheet has alleged that Kanimozhi has made Rs 200 crore from Swan to Kalaignar TV as bribe money.
    Earlier this day, Cineyug Films Director Karim Morani’s bail petition was also rejected by the Patiala House Court in the 2G spectrum scam case. While rejecting his bail application Special Judge OP Saini ordered that Morani be sent to judicial custody. He was arrested soon after his bail petition was rejected.
    Kalaignar TV’s balance sheet has reflected Rs 214.84 crore as an unsecured loan and it came from Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd. The exact amount Rs 214.8654 crore was given to Kalaignar TV as an unsecured loan in the company’s balance sheet for the year 2009-2010.
    Cineyug is owned by the Balwas and the Morani Brothers. So the question that arises is as to where does Cineyug got this loan from?
    As per the Cineyug balance sheet, Rs 212 crore has been loaned by Kusegaon Fruit and Vegetables Pvt Ltd that is owned by Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal. Kusegaon shows an unsecured loan of Rs 209 crore in its balance sheet. Asif Balwa is a director with DB Realty which has a stake in Swan Telecom.