A Raja
India's former telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja (L) leaves the court after his hearing in New Delhi February 14, 2011.Reuters

A special court on Friday framed charges against 19 people in the 2G scam, including DMK chief Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi and wife Dayalu Ammal, and former telecom minister A Raja. 

All accused have pleaded not guilty and face seven years in jail if convicted. The Enforcement Directorate had filed charges against the 19 for money-laundering in April this year, accusing them of being involved in a ₹ 200-crore transaction between DB group company and the DMK-run Kalaignar TV.

The other accused include Kalaignar TV director Sharad Kumar, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, and Bollywood producer Karim Morani.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini framed the charges on Friday, as reported by IANS. The accused have been booked under sections dealing with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The court will hear the matter again on 11 November when the trial is set to begin.

The 2G spectrum scam had caused a loss of ₹1.76 lakh crores to the state ex-chequer.