2G witness bats for Kanimozhi

CBI says he is resiling

DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s nephew and Kalaignar TV’s chief financial officer, P Amirtham, today deposed in favour of 2G spectrum scam accused and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi.

Amirtham allegedly went against his testimony recorded with the Central Bureau of Investgation to say that after she had resigned from Kalignar TV, Kanimozhi was not involved in any decision-making process of that organisation. Amirtham’s statement could change the direction of the 2G case linked to Kanimozhi. Also, it could dilute the only money trail CBI has listed in the chargesheet.

Kanimozhi was taken into judicial custody on May 11, 2011, for the payment of Rs 200 crore routed through various companies by DB Group to Kalaignar TV. She was released on bail on November 28, 2011.

CBI had alleged that the payment was made as kickbacks for granting favour to Shahid Balwa of DB group in getting spectrum.

Amirtham said today that Kanimozhi was reluctant to join the company which was started by her father, Karunanidhi, in 2007, but agreed upon it “under the pressure of her father.”

CBI prosecutor U U Lalit told special CBI judge O P Saini that the witness was resiling from his previous statement. Lalit mentioned that Amirtham had earlier told CBI that, “…nevertheless she used to take keen interest in day-to-day affairs of the company” after quitting the post of Director, Kalignar TV. Denying that he ever said so, Amirtham also said he has never used the word “nevertheless” in his life.

Amirtham told the court that he is official signatory for the company and Kanimozhi was not conferred with such powers and that she did not even want them. The DMK MP resigned from her directorship on June 20,2007.