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The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday questioned the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi's wife, Ms Dayalu Ammal, and daughter, Ms Kanimozhi, here in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.
According to sources in the agency, a special team of the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch flew down from New Delhi early on Friday and quizzed the two at the office of Kalaignar TV, which is housed in ‘Anna Arivalayam', headquarters of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Nearly a month after conducting a search at Kalaignar TV and questioning its Managing Director, Mr Sharad Kumar, the CBI brought members of the State's first family under the ambit of its probe, just weeks ahead of the Assembly elections. Ms Dayalu Ammal and Ms Kanimozhi hold 60 and 20 per cent shares respectively in the Tamil channel.
The agency suspects that the transfer of Rs 214 crore to Kalaignar TV by a company linked to Mr Shahid Usman Balwa of DB Realty, who is under arrest in the 2G spectrum case, could have been a quid pro quo for Swan Telecom obtaining a licence. However, the TV company has said the money was advance payment for a stake in Kalaignar TV, and was returned with interest after the deal fell through over differences on valuation of shares.
While Ms Dayalu Ammal was quizzed for about half an hour, the CBI team sought clarifications from Ms Kanimozhi for more than three hours. The questions focussed on the flow of funds to Kalaignar TV.
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