Kanimozhi to Remain in Jail on Diwali

Rajya Sabha MP and DMK chief M Karuninidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, who is presently lodged in the Tihar jail facing charges in 2G Telecom scam, is likely to come out on bail a week after Diwali. It is nearing six months that Kanimozhi has been in the jail. The trial of 14 individuals and three companies accused of drafting and executing the telecom scam will begin on November 11.

Though the investigating agency, the CBI, has not opposed Kanimozhi's bail in the court, Judge OP Saini who heads the  special court said that he will decide on November 3 whether to grant bail to Kanimozhi and the others shortlisted today.
The CBI has earlier said in court that  it does  not oppose bail for "No 13 to 17 accused in the telecom scam." Kanimzohi is no 17. The others in this group include Sharad Kumar who is the Managing Director of a TV channel co-owned by Kanimozhi, Karim Morani, Asif Balwa, Rajeev Aggarwal.  All of them have been arrested for allegedly helping former telecom minister A Raja receive a massive kickback from Swan Telecom, one of the companies that will stand trial for criminal conspiracy.

In Kanimozhi's case, the CBI  believes that a TV channel named Kalaignar, which is partly-owned by her, became the resting place for a 214-crore bribe for Mr Raja.  The money was allegedly sent by Swan Telecom, which got a  mobile network license out of turn.   Her lawyers say that the money was a loan that was returned with interest, and that the MP's role in the channel was a small one.  As  a minority shareholder , they say, she holds  20 per cent equity, and was a Director for two weeks in 2007 before she resigned.