Kanimozhi, DMK MP and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s daughter, was sent to the Tihar Jail today as the special CBI court rejected her bail plea in the ongoing 2G spectrum scam case. She has been accused of criminal conspiracy and accepting bribe for allocating 2G spectrum to companies. Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar was also denied bail and taken to prison.
The 43-year-old MP, who appeared extremely upset after the verdict, was consoled by her husband Aravindan and other family members. Several DMK supporters broke down in the court room after special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge O P Saini pronounced the order.
In his order, Saini said the bail applications of Kanimozhi and Kumar were dismissed, considering the magnitude of the crime, character of evidence on record and the apprehension that witnesses might be influenced in case the accused are released on bail.
“I have no hesitation in holding that both accused have failed to make out a prima facie case for bail. Bail applications are without merit and the same are dismissed,” he said.
Kanimozhi and Kumar each hold 20 per cent stake in Kalaignar TV and have been accused of criminal conspiracy and accepting a bribe of Rs 200 crore from Shahid Balwa’s company, DB Realty, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kanimozhi was an active brain behind the money transfer made to Kalaignar TV, CBI had said, accusing her of complicity in the entire transaction and being in regular touch with former Communications Minister A Raja. CBI pointed to the money trail from DB Realty to Kalaignar TV through a circuitous route via Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetables (a DB group company) and Cineyug.
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Kanimozhi’s counsel, Ram Jethmalani, had argued that the mastermind of the entire scam was Raja. Jethmalani’s plea was that the special CBI court should allow Kanimozhi to go as she is a woman, mother and a Member of Parliament.
Following the order, Karunanidhi said, “A high-level party meeting will be held to discuss the future course of action.” Commenting on tie-up with Congress, he said, “I continue to have good relations with the Congress and the ties are strong.”
On appealing before the high court, he said, “We will discuss with legal experts and take a decision.” He, however, ruled out going to Delhi.
“I feel how a father will feel, I am in the same state of the mind in which you will be if your kin is arrested.”
Among those present for the court hearing today were Raja’s wife Parmeshwari along with several DMK MPs, including T R Baalu.
The main Opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), credited the Supreme Court for ensuring action against those responsible for the loss to the Union government. “The arrests and action in the 2G spectrum case was possible only because the Supreme Court was monitoring the case. We believe that during the UPA’s tenure, government-controlled investigations will not produce any results,” said Prakash Javadekar, BJP spokesperson.
With the investigations in the scam still on, a CBI official said no one had been given a clean chit till now and all evidences were being looked into. “We are looking at every angle. No one is out of it yet,” the official said to a query on why the agency was focused on “soft targets” alone.
CBI is also getting an official on deputation from the ministry of corporate affairs to assist in the investigation of the scam. While Kanimozhi and Kumar have been arrested, Karunanidhi’s second wife Dayalu Ammal, who held 60 per cent in Kalaignar TV, was spared. Kanimozhi is his third wife, Rajathi Ammal’s daughter.
Those already in jail because of the 2G scam are A Raja, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, Raja’s personal secretary R K Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, Unitech’s Sanjay Chandra, DB Realty’s Vinod Goenka, Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group’s (ADAG’s) Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara, and Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetable’s Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal.
Tihar tryst
Kanimozhi has been lodged in Tihar’s Jail number 6, meant only for women. While Raja is in jail number 1, some accused in the 2G case are in jail 3. “Kanimozhi’s security is our prime consideration,” said Tihar Jail Law Officer Sunil Gupta.
She can stay alone in the cell if she so wishes, Gupta said. “There’s sufficient accommodation available here,” he added. As against around 500 women inmates, there are 11,500 men at Tihar.
Among other women inmates are Madhuri Gupta, who as a diplomat was arrested for spying, and Sharda Jain, a former Delhi Municipal Councillor who murdered her colleague Atma Ram.