| Corporate | | | 2G scam: Morani exempted from appearance third time | | | TT Correspondent | | 13 May 2011 | | |   For the tired time in a row A Cineyug Film's Karim Morani , an accused in the second generation (2G) spectrum allocation case managed to get exemption from personal appearance in special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Thursday. CBI special judge while allowing him exemption from personal appearance on grounds of ill health asked him to submit a health check-up report from a government hospital.
CBI special judge O.P. Saini said: "Morani should appear in court on May 18."
Meanwhile, public prosecutor U.U. Lait strongly opposed Morani's exemption plea and requested the court to direct him to appear on the next date or ask him to produce his health check-up report from a government hospital.
The court will hear Morani's anticipatory bail plea May 18.
On May 6, Morani had got exemption for appearance as he was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. He again got exemption May 10 on the same grounds.
Earlier Tuesday, the court exempted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar from personal appearance in the court Thursday and Friday.
However, Kanimozhi and Kumar have been directed to appear before the court Saturday, when it will decide whether the two will be jailed.
Judge Saini allowed their applications as they said they had been summoned by the Income Tax department in Chennai for questioning on these two days.
Meanwhile, Aman Lekhi, counsel for former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, moved a second bail application for his client.
The matter is posted for hearing May 23.
The court was also hearing CBI's arguments against the bail plea of Asif Balwa, the cousin of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, and Rajeev Agarwal, both directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd.
"The arguments on bail plea of Asif and Rajiv will continue May 13," the court said.
The CBI has chargesheeted former communication minister A. Raja, his aide R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and Shahid Balwa for conspiring to sell the 2G spectrum waves to select companies at rock bottom prices.
Later, the probe agency also named Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar, Morani, Asif Balwa and Rajiv as co-conspirator in the case. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal was listed as a witness.
Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom, Sanjay Chandra of Unitech and three officials of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group - Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara - were also named in the chargesheet.
Among the accused, Raja, Chandolia, Behura, Shahid Balwa, Asif Balwa, Agarwal, Goenka, Chandra, Doshi, Nair and Pipara are in judicial custody. |
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