Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) A trial court Tuesday exempted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar, both accused in the spectrum allotment case, from personal appearance in the court Thursday-Friday.

Special CBI judge O.P. Saini allowed the applications filed by the two, who said they they had been summoned by the Income Tax department in Chennai for questioning on those two days.

“They should not try to influence any of the witnesses while they are on their way to Chennai,” said the court.

A trial court had May 7 rejected the exemption application of Kanimozhi and Kumar for May 9-10.

In their plea, DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kumar stated that they wished to visit Chennai to meet their auditors to prepare their replies to be filed before the Enforcement Directorate.

Kanimozhi appeared in the Patiala court May 6 with Kumar.

The court had in its order asked her to appear in person every day till the documents were scrutinised. The court has reserved its order on her bail plea till May 14.

Earlier, Cineyug Film’s Karim Morani, another accused, was also granted exemption from personal appearance in the court. On May 6, Morani was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital.

But Morani will have to appear before the court Thursday.

Meanwhile, the CBI Tuesday opposed the bail plea of Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa and two others.

Shahid Balwa, his cousin Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal, both directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, had moved bail applications earlier.

After hearing the arguments, the court listed hearing for the bail plea for Thursday.

The counsel for Sahid will continue his arguments on his bail application on May 18.

Kanimozhi, who had come in the court with her husband Aravindan, was seen talking to former telecom minister and key accused A. Raja. She was also reading a book during the day’s proceedings.

The CBI has chargesheeted Raja, his aide R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and Shahid Balwa for conspiring to sell the 2G spectrum waves to select companies at rock bottom prices.

Later, the probe agency also named Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar, Morani, Asif Balwa and Rajiv as co-conspirator in the case. Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal was listed as a witness.

Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom, Sanjay Chandra of Unitech and three officials of the Anil Ambani Group - Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara - were also named in the chargesheet.

Among the accused, Raja, Chandolia, Behura, Shahid Balwa, Asif Balwa, Agarwal, Goenka, Chandra, Doshi, Nair and Pipara are in judicial custody.