2G: Karim Morani moves fresh bail plea

New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) Karim Morani, a Bollywood (Indian
film industry) film producer and accused in 2G spectrum
allocation scam, Thursday moved a Delhi court afresh for bail
saying "stress and rigours" of jail might prove fatal for him
due to his ailments.
Morani, Director of Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd, approached
Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O P Saini
for bail saying the allegations against him in the charge
sheet filed by CBI were "highly misplaced."
CBI has accused Morani of facilitating the transfer of Rs
200 crore as bribe from co-accused Shahid Usman Balwa-promoted
DB Group to DMK (Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam)-run Kalaignar TV
through a circuitous route.
"Applicant (Morani) has on several occasion suffered
total loss of consciousness induced by stress. The applicant
has suffered from syncopal attacks on two separate occasions
while being in judicial custody," said Morani in his bail
plea.
"The stresses and rigours of judicial custody may very
well prove fatal for the applicant keeping in view his medical
condition," the bail plea said.
Morani also said CBI has failed to unearth any money
trail in the 2G case as claimed by it in the first
supplementary charge sheet filed on April 25.
"CBI has failed to discover any money trail in the 2G
spectrum case and thus attempts by way of the supplementary
charge sheet, to claim that a legitimate transaction through
proper banking channels between corporate entities is tainted,
whereas no wrongdoing exists, especially on the part of the
applicant," the application said.
Morani said no case of criminal conspiracy or abatement
was made out against him as he was not the beneficiary of the
alleged illegitimate transaction. He said he was not even
connected to the telecom sector.
He said CBI has relied upon 165 witnesses and 819
documents in its charge sheets and as the records are
voluminous, there is "no likelihood that the trial would be
concluded in the near future in the event the charge is framed
against him."
Regarding the transaction of money, he claimed it was for
the purpose of investment/loan by Kalaignar TV and was later
returned with interest.
The court has listed the bail plea for hearing on
September 21.
The court had first dismissed Morani's anticipatory bail
plea, after which he had appeared before the court in response
to its summons for his alleged role in the 2G scam and was
arrested.
The court had later dismissed his regular bail plea as
well, after which he had approached both the Delhi High Court
and the Supreme Court but with little success.
CBI had alleged Morani took Rs six crore for facilitating
the Rs 200 crore transaction.
CBI, in its second charge sheet in the 2G case, had
alleged Swan Telecom and Dynamix Realty Promoters Shahid Usman
Balwa and Vinod Goenka channeled Rs 200 crore to DMK-run
Kalaignar TV through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd
and Morani's Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd.