DMK MP Kanimozhi was on Monday granted bail by the Delhi high court, enabling her to be released from Tihar jail in New Delhi. The Rajya Sabha MP, who is the daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, was arrested in connection with the 2G scam on May 20.
Allowing bail to Kanimozhi and four others, Justice V K Shali said all the five bail “applications are allowed”.
“I grant bail to five persons. The conditions would be same as imposed by the Supreme Court,” said the judge.
Conditions set by the Supreme Court while giving bail to five co-accused and telecom companies’ officials will also apply in the case of Kanimozhi and four others, the high court said.
Besides Kanimozhi, bail was granted to Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar, Cineyug Films’ Karim Morani, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Asif Balwa and Rajiv B. Agarwal.
The court, however, reserved its order on the bail plea of former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, saying it will pronounce its judgement later as his plea has been opposed by the CBI. “You (Behura) file your written submissions to the contentions of the CBI,” Justice Shali told Behura’s lawyer.
Earlier, additonal solicitor general Mohan Parasaran said the probe agency was not opposed to grant of bail to the five persons except Behura and they can be released on the ground of parity as the Supreme Court has already given the same benefit to five other co-accused in the case.
Parasaran, however, opposed Behura’s bail plea saying the bail pleas of public servants require stricter scrutiny as they are the trustees of public property.
Kanimozhi’s lawyers had tried for bail from the 2G trial many times but they were rejected. Kanimozhi’s bail will bring cheer to Karunanidhi, who has suffered several setbacks after losing the Tamil Nadu elections.
The DMK welcomed the High Court’s order, saying it was a big relief to her family.
“We are very happy for Kanimozhi and the other four granted bail today by the honourable high court. At any point of time, the orders will come and then only we will come to know about the conditions,” said DMK leader T R Baalu.
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