2G: Karunanidhi's wife deposes for five hours

DMK president M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, a prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case, deposed before a magistrate for around five hours here Monday.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) M. Gopalan reached Karunanidhi's residence around 9.40 a.m. for the testimony.

Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a co-conspirator in the case, was present when the DMK chief's residence.

Also present were Kalaignar TV CEO Sharad Kumar and Asif Balwa, director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd.

Speaking to reporters, K.K. Goel, senior public prosecutor for CBI, said the evidence had been recorded and Dayalu Ammal cooperated. He declined to share more details.

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

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

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

She reportedly suffers from Alzheimer's and amnesia.

A team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences examined her July 27 in Chennai.

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

On Oct 14, the CBI special court pulled up the Chennai 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 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.