In a fresh set back to the DMK-Congress relations, CBI has named TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi as an accused in a second charge sheet submitted to the special CBI court in Delhi today in relation with the 2G spectrum scam.
The development has given rise to speculations that DMK may quit the UPA government at the Center.
Others whose names appeared in the second charge sheet along with Ms. Kanimozhi are Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa’s cousin Asif Balwa, Rajeev Agarwal-Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, and Karim Murani of Cineyug Films (Pvt) Ltd.
Ms. Kanimozhi, Mr. Sharad Kumar and Karim Murani were asked by the special CBI court to appear before it on May 6. Ms. Kanimozhi has been charged with section 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with the acceptance of alleged bribe.
Karuna parries questions
When media persons queried Karunanidhi in Chennai over the rumors of DMK quitting the UPA Alliance following the naming of his family members in the charge sheet, he parried the questions by retorting, “Is that your desire?”
Coming down heavily on the media, he said the media would report big against the DMK even at the slightest of the allegation but he said he would continue to read the newspapers despite that provocation.
After arresting the former Telecom Minister A. Raja in connection with the scam, the CBI officials have recently questioned Ms. Dayalu and Ms. Kanimozhi, wife and daughter of Karunanidhi respectively.
