File photo: Dayalu Ammal, DMK chief M Karunanidhi's second wife
DMK chief M Karunanidhi's second wife, Dayalu Ammal, who has been enlisted as a witness in the telecom scam, is expected to testify at her home in Chennai later this month.
Her lawyers have said she is unwell and cannot leave the house. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the city is likely to meet the 84-year-old at her residence on October 28.
Legally, this requires all 17 people accused in the telecom case to be present as well because as a witness for the prosecution, Dayalau Ammal's comments may work against them. The accused include the executives of some of India's biggest telecom firms and senior DMK leaders including Dayalu Ammal's step-daughter, Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minister A Raja.
He has been accused of rigging mobile network licenses to favour ineligible companies, costing the country 1.86 lakh crore according to the national auditor.
The telecom or 2G scam - named for the second-generation frequency that was involved - is being tried in a court in Delhi. The judge, OP Saini, had pulled up the CBI for delaying the recording of Dayalu Ammal's testimony.
Her request for exemption from deposing in the case was rejected by the Supreme Court in August.
The judges said that since she is unwell and cannot travel to Delhi to testify in the court here, her deposition should be handled locally.
Kanimozhi and Dayalu Ammal are part owners of Kalaignar TV, a channel in Chennai, that allegedly received a large kickback for Mr Raja from Swan Telecom, one of the companies accused of conspiring with him to land an out-of-turn 2G license.
Both women have said that they played no role in the management of the channel. Kanimozhi was released on bail in November 2011 after spending more than six months in jail.