Payment to Kalaignar TV was for advertisements: India Cements
June 24th, 2011 - 9:36 pm ICT by IANSChennai, June 24 (IANS) City-based cement major India Cements Ltd Friday denied any role in the 2G scam by saying that the payments it made to Kalaignar TV were for advertisements.
In a statement issued here, the company said: “The company wishes to clarify that it (payments) relates to commercial advertisement contracts for its products and cricket franchise Chennai Super Kings, made in the normal course of business.”
The statement was issued in the wake of news reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was looking into payments made by India Cements to Kalaignar TV and whether it was to enable the latter to pay its ‘loan’ to the DB Group of companies.
Kalaignar TV, running a bouquet of Tamil channels, is majority-owned by family members of DMK chief and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi.
Sixty percent of Kalaignar TV is owned by Karunanidhi’s second wife Dayalu Ammal, 20 percent by his daughter Kanimozhi and the balance by the company’s managing director Sharad Kumar.
Both Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar are lodged in Tihar Jail after the CBI had named them as co-conspirators in the supplementary chargesheet for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs.214 crore.
They were arrested May 20 after a trial court dismissed their bail pleas.
The investigating agency said the bribe was routed through Kalaignar TV.
It is alleged that Kalaignar TV received Rs.214 crore through a “circuitous” route from Shahid Usman Balwa, the promoter of Swan Telecom, which is one of the companies that received 2G spectrum when the DMK’s A. Raja was communications minister in 2008.
- Karunanidhi to visit daughter in Tihar jail Tuesday (Lead) - Jun 20, 2011
- Charge sheet entire Karunanidhi family, says Jayalalithaa - Apr 25, 2011
- Arrest Kanimozhi, cancel Kalaignar TV's license: Jayalalithaa - Apr 25, 2011
- Kalaignar TV now fights to clear its name - Apr 25, 2011
- Unhappy DMK to meet Wednesday, Congress says alliance stable (Roundup) - Apr 26, 2011
- Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar's bail order reserved (Second Lead) - May 30, 2011
- CBI grills Kalaignar MD in 2G scam - Mar 14, 2011
- Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar quizzed by income tax department (Lead) - May 12, 2011
- DMK to take legal action to establish truth in 2G scam (Lead) - Apr 27, 2011
- Kanimozhi charged with conspiracy in 2G scam case - Apr 25, 2011
- 2G Scam: CBI questions Karunanidhi's wife, daughter - Mar 11, 2011
- Relieved Karunanidhi speaks to Kanimozhi - Nov 28, 2011
- 2G scam: Kusegoan officials question CBI charges (Lead) - Aug 16, 2011
- Kanimozhi is brain behind Kalaignar TV: CBI tells court (Roundup) - May 07, 2011
- High court notice to CBI on Kanimozhi's bail plea - May 24, 2011
Tags: bail pleas, bribe, cbi, central bureau of investigation, chennai, chief minister, circuitous route, commercial advertisement, conspirators, db group, india cements, investigating agency, kanimozhi, promoter, raja, second wife, sharad, tamil nadu, trial court, usman