Balwa facilitated transaction to Kalaignar TV: CBI to court

The probe agency, while opposing the bail plea of Balwa who is in judicial custody in 2G spectrum allocation case, said the industrialist had made the transaction with Kalaignar TV after getting the licenses relating to the radio waves.

Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd belonged to Sharad Kumar and others, who are closely associated with Raja, while the funds were arranged by Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd from DB Group companies in which family members of Balwa are either Directors or shareholders, the agency said. CBI alleged Balwa had manipulated various things to get the licenses.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini, who was hearing the arguments on the bail applications filed by Balwa and Raja's former Personal Secretary R K Chandolia, later reserved the order for tomorrow.

CBI opposed the bail plea saying the offence was of serious in nature. "In such a case, bail should not be granted to the accused (Balwa and Chandolia) as they are influential and can temper with the evidences and witnesses," CBI said.

CBI further said Balwa was aware of the change in policy by the Telecom Ministry for allocation of spectrum and he was ready with the amount to be submitted for that. Balwa, however, said licenses were granted to 9 companies and CBI has arrested only him in this case. He said he had incurred lost due to change in the policy.

Chandolia, on the other hand, submitted he was only the personal secretary and had nothing to do with the grant of licenses. Former Telecom Secretary Siddartha Behura, who was arrested for his alleged role in 2G scam, had also moved an application seeking defreezing of his bank accounts which CBI had sealed during the raid at his residence on December 8, 2010.

He said his wife had recently undergone cancer operation and he needs money for her treatment. The court listed the matter for further hearing on Behura's plea on February 28. The trio is now in Tihar jail under judicial custody till March 3.