26 Scam: Kalaignar TV MD, Cineyug founder grilled by CBI

New Delhi, Mar 14 (PTI) Probing the alleged links
between some Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam party leaders and
Shahid Balwa in the 2G scam, the CBI Monday questioned
managing director of Kalaignar TV Sharad Kumar and founder of
Cineyug, Karim Morani, who is said to have facilitated
transfer of Rs 214 crore to the channel in which Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister's family has a majority stake.
Kumar reached the Central Bureau of Investigation
Headqaurters at 11.30 am and was grilled for nearly six hours
by the investigators in connection with transfer of funds from
Cineyug which was allegedly facilitated by DB-group promoted
by Balwa, one of the accused in the spectrum allocation scam,
official sources said.
Two hours later, Morani was also grilled.CBI sought
clarifications from the two since the agency found
discrepancies in the versions given by them on the alleged
transfer, the sources said.
Kumar was quizzed about the Rs 214 crore received by the
channel from Cineyug and the role of DB realty in that.
"I was called to cross-verify some issues...I have
provided all the information sought by them. I am going back
to Chennai today," Kumar told reporters.
Last week, a team of CBI officials had gone to
capital of southern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, to question
DMK Member of Parliament and state Chief Minister
Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi and his wife M K Dayalu Ammal
in connection with the 2G scam and her stake in Kalaignar TV
channel. Kumar was also quizzed in this regard along with the
duo.
Kumar, who is a minority stake holder in the channel
which is housed in Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, was
questioned for the third time in this regard.
The CBI had told a court recently, "It has also come
to light that there was a transaction of Rs 214 crore from M/s
Cineyug Films private limited to Kalaignar TV in 2009.
"The funds were arranged by M/s Cineyug Films from DB
Group companies wherein the family members of Balwa are the
directors or shareholders," CBI had said in its application
filed before the court.
The channel had refuted the allegation that there was
any connection between Balwa-promoted Swan Telecom and the
channel. Kumar had also denied receiving pay-offs from DB
realty, whose former chief Balwa is in jail along with former
telecom Minister A Raja in connection with the 2G scam.
He had said the sum received from Cineyug Films was an
"advance for transaction of shares", and was returned with
interest when the two parties differed over the price
evaluation of shares.
Kumar had said that the money from Cineyug was received
as loan and the Income Tax department was aware of the
transaction.