NEW DELHI (TIP): DMK MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, on May 9 claimed innocence before a trial court saying she had no role in the management, administration or day-to-day operations of Kalaignar TV (KTV).

Daughter of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi also accused the CBI of pressuring the witnesses in the case into deposing against her. Recording her statement before a special CBI court, Kanimozhi also declined to lead defence evidence in the case, adding that prosecution witnesses deposed against her only due to CBI pressure.

According to the CBI, an amount of Rs 200 crore was paid by promoters of Swan Telecom, using their group entity Dynamix Realty, to KTV, through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd. and Cineyug Films as loan application money. The investigating agency claimed in the charge sheet that the payment was illegal gratification for and on behalf of prime accused, the then communications minister A Raja and his associates in lieu of illegal favours.

Replying to over 1700 questions running into 824 pages, Kanimozhi said that though she had 20 percent stakes in KTV, she acted as a director for a short period of two weeks between June 6, 2007 and June 20, 2007. “I never had anything to do with the management and operations of M/s Kalaignar TV (P) Ltd., except having been a director for a short period of two weeks and being a shareholder.

Yet I was arraigned as an accused in the case. After my resigning from directorship on June 20, 2007, I have had no role whatsoever in the management, administration or running of day-to-day operations of the company. The transactions which are the subject matter of the present case have taken place between December 2008 and February 2011.

In the said period I had no role in any manner in the running of the company,” Kanimozhi deposed. Meanwhile, Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, another accused in the case, was reprimanded by the court which said certain answers given by him in response to the court’s query were “objectionable”.