Stunned silence, tears, and then acceptance

For two weeks, the DMK MP — daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi and scion of one of the most powerful political families in the country — kept a calm expression while facing the special CBI court hearing the 2G scam. On Friday, her face crumbled as the court ordered her to be jailed.

For two weeks, the DMK MP — daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi and scion of one of the most powerful political families in the country — kept a calm expression while facing the special CBI court hearing the 2G scam. On Friday, her face crumbled as the court ordered her to be jailed.

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The crowded courtroom was so noisy Kanimozhi couldn’t hear judge OP Saini ruling: “Bail applications are dismissed. They be arrested forthwith.” Party leader and co-accused A Raja had to lean across and explain it to her in Tamil. Even as the crowd was stunned into silence, Kanimozhi closed her eyes tight for a few seconds before she could bring her composure back. But she broke down when her husband Aravindhan, family members and party workers tried to comfort her. A few DMK workers were seen weeping after the constables took her into the court lock-up.

Through her tears, Kanimozhi told the gathered media the order “was expected”.

“She is a courageous woman and will fight it out till she emerges clean,” DMK MP Vasanthi Stanley told HT outside the court.

A smiling Kanimozhi was the cynosure of all eyes when she entered the courtroom at 10am, clad in an orange salwar kameez. She had pleaded for leniency on the grounds of being a woman and a lawmaker. But judge Saini wrote: “Considering the magnitude of the crime and allegations against her, I am unable to show any consideration on this ground, though I wish I could show her some consideration, considering her extremely dignified conduct in the court.”

The court relied on statements recorded by Kalaignar TV general manager (finance) G Rajendran, who revealed Kanimozhi’s alleged role in receiving the kickbacks. Rajendran said in his statement to the CBI that it was she who authorised Kumar to accept the R200-crore from Cineyug as a corporate loan. The court pointed out that Kalaignar TV director P Amritham also gave a similar statement to the CBI.