New Delhi: A defence witness in a 2G scam- related money laundering case, in which former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 17 others are facing trial, Friday told a special court here that money transactions between several accused firms were "legal" and "genuine".
"The character of money invested by Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables (P) Ltd into Cineyug Films (P) Ltd and Cineyug Films (P) Ltd into Kalaignar TV (P) Limited was legal and correct one and a genuine business transaction and so was its return," Mitesh Vinay Kant Kurani, Chief Financial Officer of Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, told the court.
The special court later fixed June 1 for commencement of final arguments in the 2G scam-related money laundering case, after Special CBI Judge O P Saini concluded recording of defence evidence during which the accused examined six witnesses.
"Defence evidence of all 19 accused stands closed. Put up the matter for final arguments on June 1," the court said.
Kurani said Cineyug Films (P) Ltd had received a proposal from Kalaignar TV regarding equity participation to the extent of 27-34 percent at a consideration of Rs 200 crore.
During cross-examination by ED's special public prosecutor N K Matta, Kurani denied that the money transaction between these firms was "bribe money".
"It is wrong to suggest that the money which was received by us from Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables (P) Ltd and subsequently passed on to Kalaignar TV (P) Ltd was bribe money. It is wrong to suggest that we created false documents in order to show bribe money as loan," he said.
He also denied suggestions of the prosecutor that the money was recalled from Kalaignar TV after Raja was called for interrogation by the CBI.
Kurani said Cineyug Films (P) Ltd's Director Karim Morani, one of the accused in the case, was not involved in the day-to-day affairs of the company.
The recording of defence evidence in the case had started on April 8.
Raja, Kanimozhi, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka and 14 others, including nine firms, are facing trial in the case.
The ED on April 25 last year had filed a chargesheet against the 19 accused for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The other accused in the case are Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Bollywood producer Karim Morani and P Amirtham. All of them are out on bail.
The court had also framed charges against accused firms STPL, KTV, Kusegaon Realty Pvt Ltd (formerly Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd), Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd (formerly known as Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd), Dynamix Realty, DB Realty Ltd, Eversmile Construction Company Pvt Ltd, Conwood Constructions and Developers (P) Ltd and Mystical Construction (P) Ltd (earlier called M/s Nihar Constructions (P) Ltd).
If convicted of the charges against them, Raja and others will face a maximum sentence of up to seven years.
In the money-laundering case, the court had on October 31 last year framed charges against the accused saying that Raja, allegedly in connivance with Kanimozhi, Dayalu Ammal and other co-accused, was involved in "parking" of illegal gratification of Rs 200 crore in Kalaignar TV.
This is the second case in the 2G spectrum allocation scam in which Raja, Kanimozhi and others are facing trial for their alleged involvement.
In the first case probed by CBI, Raja, Kanimozhi, Shahid Balwa, Goenka, Asif Balwa, Rajiv Agarwal, Morani and Sharad Kumar, besides others, are facing trial for criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, cheating and other offences punishable under the provisions of IPC and under Prevention of Corruption Act.
