Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Smile to teary eyes — emotions changed on DMK MP Kanimozhi’s face within hours as the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Friday rejected her bail plea in 2G spectrum scam case and sent her to the Tihar Jail.

There was a pin drop silence in the jam-packed courtroom and all heads turned towards Kanimozhi when CBI Special Judge O.P. Saini rejected her bail plea.

As she was not able to hear the court ruling, the 43-year-old daughter of DMK chief M.Karunanidhi turned to party colleague and former communications minister A.Raja - the main accused in the case - who told her that bail plea has been dismissed. It seemed she couldn’t believe the decision. She asked him again.

When the decision of the court sank in, Kanimozhi’s facial emotions changed drastically. While all through the day in the court and out, she smiled her gentle smile, the news, however, clearly stunned her.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds before she regained her composure and the usual smile was back on her face. Raja is in Tihar Jail too.

The court also rejected the bail plea of Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar. It was Sharad Kumar’s wife who came forward to console Kanimozhi.

Kanimozhi, wearing an orange salwar suit, was also consoled by her family members, including her husband Aravindan.

She continuously talked to Aravindan, who always accompanied her during her court appearances, and looked like giving him some instructions.

The judge’s pronouncement, meanwhile, stirred the security officials into action. The CBI officials had to make their way to get near her in order to take her into custody.

For around 20 minutes, the police officials in the courtroom had a tough time to make way for Kanimozhi so that they could take her to the Patiala Court lock-up which was just a few metres away.

“Please call women constables,” shouted a police officer and then politely asked lawyers, media persons and relatives to give them space.

As she was taken away, Kanimozhi’s bodyguard started wailing loudly in the court. Kanimozhi’s women relatives, who had surrounded her, also started crying. It was clearly difficult for kanimozhi to control her emotions.

Asked if she was disappointed, the DMK leader just said: “It was expected. Thanks.”

Kanimozhi was taken into custody by women constables and she walked toward the court lock-up teary-eyed.

On the other side, Sharad Kumar’s wife was crying as he too was being taken to jail.

DMK leaders - Helen Davidson, T.M. Selvaganapathy, T.R. Baalu, T.K.S. Elangovan, Adhi Sankar, S.R. Jeyadurai and Vasanthi Stanley - were present in the court.

Also present in the courtroom was Raja, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa, Raja’s aide R.K. Chandolia, Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom and Sanjay Chandra of Unitech. All of accused were then sent to Patiala Court lock-up.