It was an emotional reunion at the Chennai airport on Saturday, as a teary-eyed DMK chief M Karunanidhi hugged and kissed his daughter Kanimozhi, who arrived home to a rousing welcome four days after she was granted bail in the 2G case.
The CBI had arrested the 43-year-old Rajya Sabha MP in connection with an alleged payment of R214 crore by the DB Group to DMK-run Kalaignar TV, in which she is one of the directors.
"I really feel happy coming back home," said a visibly happy and emotional Kanimozhi, who was accompanied by husband Aravindan and son Aditya.
Earlier, hundreds of party cadres thronged the airport, where traditional artistes sang, danced and played drums to welcome their leader. Party flags and banners, depicting Kanimozhi's photograph, dotted the roads leading to her house in central Chennai.
At her CIT Colony residence, drums drowned out the Carnatic music that was playing alongside to celebrate her return.
A senior DMK leader told HT that such a rousing reception was "generally accorded only to party leaders and Karunanidhi's sons, DMK treasurer Stalin or Union chemical and fertiliser minister MK Alagiri."
Once at her residence, Kanimozhi thanked party workers and friends for supporting her and said she will prove her innocence. "This is the first step and I will prove my innocence."
{{/usCountry}}Once at her residence, Kanimozhi thanked party workers and friends for supporting her and said she will prove her innocence. "This is the first step and I will prove my innocence."
{{/usCountry}}There is a growing clamour within the party to elevate Kanimozhi to a higher party position.