Just hours before the CBI is due to file its next chargesheet in the 2G scam, the agency seems to have changed its mind about whether to name Dayalu Ammal, the wife of DMK chief M Karunanidhi.The change in plan, sources say, is attributed to political pressure to exclude her. No similar favour, however, is likely to be extended to Mr Karuanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi.In Chennai today, Mr Karunandhi said, "I do not know about the chargesheet. If such things come out you (media) will put it and I will know about it."Till Friday, CBI sources were sure that both women would be chargesheeted because of their ownership of a TV channel in Chennai that allegedly hosted a massive kickback sent by a telecom company to former Telecom Minister A Raja. Though he is now in jail for the 2G scam, Mr Raja has not been abandoned by the DMK, where he has been held in high regard for his considerable popularity as a Dalit leader.Mr Raja allegedly sold spectrum and mobile network licenses in 2008 at inexplicably low prices to companies that should not have qualified.The CBI says that Shahid Balwa of Swan Telcom sent a cheque for 214 crores to Mr Raja. It was routed through a maze of companies all linked to Mr Balwa - like Cineyug Films and Kusegaon Realty. Mr Balwa is already in jail. So is his partner, Vinod Goenka. Likely to join him are the top executives at Cineyug and Kusegaon - Karim Morani and Mr Balwa's brother, Asif, among others.The cheque was deposited with Kalaignar TV, 80% of which is owned by Dayalu Ammal and her stepdaughter, Kanimozhi. During her interrogation earlier this year, Kanimozhi, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, said the money was intended as a payment for equity, but was returned with interest after the deal wavered.Dayaluammal's sons -MK Alagiri and MK Stalin -are both senior DMK leader and were reportedly furious with media reports that declared she would be included in the latest chargesheet. Whether voters in Tamil Nadu care about the 2G scam will be known on May 13 when the results for the state election are declared - voting was held on April 13. The DMK has fought the elections in an alliance with the Congress. And while sources say the partnership is under significant strain because of the 2G investigation, it will not collapse. The Congress, however, will have the firm upper hand as it negotiates for share of power if the alliance wins.Sources in the DMK say the party knows that with its senior-most members linked so closely to the 2G scam, it needs any cover the Congress may be able to offer. Nudging the CBI to ignore Dayalu Ammal could be an example of the possible benefits of staying in business with the Congress.

The first chargesheet in the 2G scam was presented a few weeks ago by the CBI - it led to some of India's senior-most executives at different telecom companies like Unitech Wireless and Reliance Telecom (of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) being arrested. Since last week, they have been in jail; their applications for bail are scheduled to be heard by the Delhi High court tomorrow.