New Delhi, May 20: There were emotional moments inside the Special CBI court at Delhi's Patiala House as Special CBI Judge O P Saini rejected Kanimozhi's bail plea and ordered the “forthwith” arrest of Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar.
Karunanidhi's daughter was sent to Tihar jail by the court which said there was a possibility of witnesses being influenced considering the “magnitude” of the crime. The 43-year-old daughter of Karunanidhi's second wife Rajathi, was shokced on hearing the order pronounced by Special CBI judge Saini but maintained her calm in the court.
However, tears welled up in her eyes when she was taken to the court lock-up by police personnel. Clad in an orange salwar suit, she was later driven in a Delhi police van to Tihar prison where she will be lodged in jail no 6. Former Telecom Minister A Raja is already lodged in Tihar.
The judge also rejected the bail plea of Sharad Kumar, MD and CEO of Kalaignar TV Private Ltd, who along with Kanimozhi, faces the charge of conspiracy and bribery in accepting Rs.200 crore from D B Realty for for the channel in the spectrum scam.
“Considering the magnitude of the crime, nature and enormity of the allegations, character of evidence on record and the apprehension that the witnesses may be influenced in case the accused are released on bail, I have no hesitation in holding that both applicants/accused have failed to make out a prima facie case for bail.
“Bail applications are without merit and the same are dismissed,” the court said in its 144-page order brushing aside her lawyer Ram Jethamalani's arguments that urged for chivalry for her being a woman.
One of the bodyguards of Kanimozhi started crying inconsolably when Kanimozhi was being taken inside the lock-up at Patiala House Courts here.
Kanimozhi, who was accompanied by her husband Aravindan, family members and DMK Parliamentary Party chief leader T R Baalu, first inquired about the order from A Raja as she could not hear it properly.
As Raja broke the news to her, stunned Kanimozhi tried very hard to control emotions and was being hugged by her husband before some women constables took over and led her inside the lock-up.
The court said most of the witnesses against the DMK MP are the employees of Kalaignar TV and hence, possibility of they being influenced cannot be ruled out. “Considering the magnitude of the crime and the fact that many of the witnesses are employees of Kalaignar TV, there is every apprehension that the witnesses may be influenced, if the accused are released on bail,” it said.
The court, which did not not go into the merits of the case and termed the observations as “tentative”, said that there were “incriminating” evidence against her and Sharad. “The role of both of the accused in the case is clear... magnitude of the crime is enormous. The allegations, on the face of it, are very grave.
“The supporting evidence is also there on record. The submissions, as such, with utmost respect are without merit,” the court said.
Kanimozhi, her family members and supporters, who waited four hours for the pronouncement of order on her bail, turned gloomy and some even cried inconsolably when women constables effected arrest and took her inside the lock-up.
The short and terse oral order—“Bail applications are dismissed. They be arrested forthwith”—of Special CBI Judge O P Saini left Kanimozhi and her family members and DMK supporters stunned.
43-year-old Kanimozhi, who could not hear the judge properly, turned towards former Telecom Minister A Raja to confirm the order.
Some of the emotionally-charged supporters broke down inside the courtroom while Kanimozhi, surrounded by her family members and husband Aravindan, tried hard to conceal her emotions.
However, tears welled on the cheeks of Kanimozhi, wearing an orange ‘salwar suit', when she was being taken inside the lock-up by women constables. Minutes after the pronouncement of the order, one of the bodyguards of the DMK leader came out crying and was surrounded by other party supporters.
The writ of women constables forcing her family members to leave her while effecting the arrest created a scene as all the female relatives started crying. PTI
