The fate of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi jailed for alleged involvement in the mega 2G spectrum allocation scam executed by former Union telecom minister A Raja now rests with the Supreme Court.
It’s for the top court to take a call on Kanmozhi’s plea for bail that she moved on Friday after the Delhi High Court refused to let her out of prison on the basis of its prima facie view that she was complicit in the conspiracy and had received an illegal gratification of Rs. 200 crore in the account of Kalaignar TV Pvt. Ltd of which she’s part owner.
There’s common perception that since the top court was monitoring the Rs 1.76 lakh crore spectrum allocation scam and it was the apex court that had directed the CBI and other agencies to book whosoever, however high or mighty, was involved in the ‘shameful’ loot of the exchequer, it may be harsh in advancing bail to the accused.
It had restrained all the courts earlier not to entertain any applications relating to spectrum scam. However, DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi has been counseled to take this last chance and move the apex court for bail.
In her appeal against the HC decision not to give her bail, Kanimozhi has said that she has been imprisoned since May 20 even as her role in the entire scam was insignificant, if at all there was any.
She holds 20 per cent equity in Kalaignar TV while Dayalu Ammal, one of the wives of Karnunanidhi but not Kanimozhi’s mother, owns 60 per cent shareholding. While Dayalu Ammal is a prosecution witness and may support the CBI case during the trial unless she turns hostile during her deposition, Kanimozhi is a star accused.
Kanimozhi has been charged under Sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The charge sheet says investigation into the case disclosed that money had taken a circuitous route from DB Realty to Kalaignar TV.
According to Kanimozhi’s lawyer BV G Pragsam two separate petitions have been filed before SC on behalf of the DMK MP and Sharad Kumar, who is managing director of Kalaignar TV.
