[tutkarussia]

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday admitted in the Supreme Court that it made a “concession” for granting bail to DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others in the 2G scam case by not opposing it before the trial court, which is expected to give its verdict on November 3.

However, the CBI made a categorical statement before a bench of justices G.S.Singhvi and H.L. Dattu that the “concession” was given only to the five accused and was not available to “anybody else” facing trial in the case. “During the course of hearing of bail applications of some accused submission was made that this concession is only to five persons, nobody else. It has been left to the discretion of the trial court to take a decision,” said additional solicitor-general Haren Raval, appearing for the CBI.

After recording the statement to this effect by Mr Raval, the apex court bench reserved its verdict on the bail pleas of five corporate honchos whose counsel had questioned the legality of the “dual stand” of the CBI.

Besides Ms Kanimozhi, the CBI had not opposed the bail pleas of Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Kuesegaon Fruits and Vegetables directors Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agrawal and Bollywood producer Karim Morani, making a distinction on the basis of the maximum sentence of five years prescribed for the specific charges framed against them, while the other accused whose bail was opposed by the agency faced specific charges carrying a maximum sentence of seven years.

On the basis of this distinction, the CBI counsel in the trial court had challenged the bail pleas of Mr R.K. Chandolia, ex-private secretary to former communications minister A.Raja, and DB Reality’s Shahid Balwa.

After five months of despair following the arrest of its Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi over the multicrore spectrum scam, hopes are running high in the DMK camp with the CBI special court set to pronounce its order on Thursday on her bail plea.

A contingent of DMK bigwigs, led by former deputy chief minister and party treasurer M.K. Stalin, will be leaving for New Delhi on Wednesday hoping to bring back Ms Kanimozhi to Chennai. Former Union minister T.R. Baalu, Union ministers S. Jagatratchagan, S.Gandhichelvan, S.S.Palanimanickam and D.Napoleon and MP T.K.S.Elangovan have already reached New Delhi. Former ministers Thangam Thennarasu and Poongothai and a host of MPs, including Ms Vasanthi Stanley, Mr A.K.S. Vijayan, Mr M.A.

Jinnah are expected to visit the Patiala House court on Thursday. Ms Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal and family members are also going to the national capital with the legal team.

“We are hopeful that she would be granted bail this time. It is the right of an accused to seek bail. The investigating agency had informed the court that it had no objection to release her on bail,” DMK spokesperson Elangovan told DC. Party sources said DMK president M.Karunanidhi is eager to receive his daughter at Chennai airport on her arrival if she is granted the much-awaited bail.

The mood in the DMK camp is upbeat especially after the CBI had reiterated its stand in the Supreme Court that it had no objection to the court granting bail to Ms Kanimozhi. Mr Karunanidhi has been upset ever since his daughter was sent to Tihar jail and took pains to visit her thrice in the last five months.

- dc chn