The CBI has filed a new chargesheet against DMK MPs K Kanimozhi and A Raja in the 2G scam, booking the two under charges that carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. So far, both faced seven-year jail terms if convicted.

The CBI on Monday sought life term for the leaders and Swan Telecom chief Shahid Balwa under section 409 - criminal breach of public trust. The three were earlier booked for cheating and criminal conspiracy with Raja facing an additional charge of forgery.

Bitter over the CBI handling of the spectrum scam probe and trial, and the many spins being given to party leader T R Baalu's Sunday meeting with UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, DMK  is mulling a withdrawal of support to the ruling coalition at the centre, sources within the party said. A meeting of the top brass is imminent and a call will be taken before civic polls commence in Tamil Nadu in October. Whatever decision the party takes, it will still be going to the polls crippled by a substantial erosion in its votes bank and cadres teetering under the 2G backlash and a rival party's government in the state.

In another development in the case, the trial court on Monday deferred the hearing of former cabinet minister Subramaniam Swamy's plea on making union home minister (then finance minister) P Chidambaram an accused in  the case to October 12.

Swamy expressed hope that the supreme court would have ruled on his petition seeking a CBI probe into Chidambaram's alleged role in the case by then.