2G scam: Karim Morani moves fresh bail plea

Karim Morani, a Bollywood film producer and accused in 2G spectrum allocation scam, today 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, approached Special 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-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 and Morani's Cineyug Films.