AAP claims 'additional' evidence on alleged role of DMK leaders in 2G scam

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday claimed additional "evidence" had emerged about the 2G spectrum telecom allocation scam showing alleged roles of Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi, daughter Kanimozhi and a top police officer of Tamil Nadu.

Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav and others told a press conference that four taped conversations had surfaced which "throw more light" on the scam in which Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi has been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Bhushan admitted AAP could not independently verify the authenticity of the tapes but prima facie they appeared genuine. They appeared to be recorded by someone on a Nokia mobile phone, he claimed.

According to him, these tapes contained purported conversation between a top officer of the state police and a senior official in Karunanidhi's office as well as between the police officer and Kanimozhi. The alleged conversations took place between November 2010 and February 2011, when Karunanidhi was the chief minister.

AAP demanded an independent probe into the alleged role played by Karunanidhi and the police officer in "covering up" the scam.

He also alleged the purported conversations contained a reference to multiple transactions of properties by the Tata Group through a subsidiary to an aide of Kanimozhi.

The leader said the tapes warranted a probe into the property deal and various "favours" granted by the then DMK government to the Tata Group.

Bhushan said he would place the tapes before the Supreme Court, monitoring the probe into the 2G scam.

Tata’s response
A Tata Sons spokesperson said, "Allegations made against Tata companies have been repeatedly looked into and investigated by the authorities concerned. These have found the conduct of Tata entities have been above board. We reiterate the business transactions of Tata companies are bona fide and in line with the Group's Code of Conduct and commitment to ethical standards"

Karunanidhi's response
M Karunanidhi denied the allegations of the AAP saying "it is all lies".