2G: Dayalu Ammal deposes

DMK president M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, a prosecution witness in the 2G allocation scam case, deposed before the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) Monday at her residence here.

CMM Gopalan arrived at Karunanidhi's residence around 9.30 a.m.

Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi charged by CBI as co-conspirator in the 2G spectrum allocation case, Kalaignar TV P Ltd CEO Sharad Kumar and other accused were also present at the DMK's chief's residence.

Considering Dayalau Ammal's age - 84 - and her ailments, the apex court had directed the CBI special court to record her statement at her residence in Gopalapuram here.

The apex court's order came on the plea by Dayalu Ammal's daughter Selvi Geetha Kovilam.

The apex court was moved seeking exemption to Dayalu Ammal - one of the directors of the Kalaignar television - from appearing before the 2G court on grounds of poor health and inability to travel to Delhi.

She reportedly also suffers from Alzheimer's and amnesia. A team of doctors from AIIMS had examined her July 27 in Chennai.

Dayalu Ammal challenged the May 31 order of the CBI special court declining her plea for exemption from appearing before it to depose as prosecution witness.

The trial court had asked Dayalu Ammal to appear before it to depose July 8.

On Oct 14, CBI special court pulled up the Chennai's chief metropolitan magistrate for delaying the recording of Dayalu Ammal's evidence. The judge said the delay in recording her evidence would further delay the 2G case.

The matter relates to the receipt of Rs.200 crore by Kalaignar TV, in which Dayalu Ammal owns 60 percent stake. The remaining stakes were shared equally by Karunanidhi's daughter (by another wife) Kanimozhi and channel CEO Kumar.

The Rs.200 crore received by Kalaignar TV is alleged to be a bribe from Dynamix Realty through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd, connected to Shahid Usman Balwa of Swan Telecom.

Former telecom minister A. Raja is the prime accused in the 2G spectrum case.

Though Karunanidhi's wife holds more than a majority stake in Kalaignar TV, the CBI has not termed her as an accused as she was just fulfilling a legal responsibility after delegating day-to-day operations to CEO Kumar.