Saturday, May 21, 2011

Kanimozhi spends the night in jail, to be back in court today


Updated on Saturday, May 21, 2011, 09:53

Tags: KanimozhiTihar jail2G scam

Zeenews Bureau 


New Delhi: DMK MP MK Kanimozhi, the daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, spent a quiet night in Tihar Jail’s prison number 6 after being arrested in the 2G scam case. 

A special CBI court had on Friday refused to grant bail to Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar citing the ‘magnitude of the crime’. 

Jail officials said no five-star treatment was given to both Kanimozhi and Kumar. 
While Kanimozhi was lodged in Jail No 6, Kumar was sent to Jail No 4 which also has Commonwealth Games scam accused Suresh Kalmadi. 

Madhuri Gupta, former official at Indian High Commission in Islamabad who was arrested on charges of spying, pimp Sonu Punjaban and MCD councilor Sharda Jain are Kanimozhi’s immediate neighbours at Tihar. 

Both Kanimozhi and Kumar will be back in the CBI court today as the case comes up for hearing. 

Addressing a packed courtroom at the Patiala House premises, CBI Special Judge OP Saini had yesterday said: “Considering the magnitude of the crime, nature and enormity of the allegation, character of evidence on record and the apprehension that the witnesses may be influenced in case the accused are released on bail, I have no hesitation in holding that both accused have failed to make out prima facie case for bail.” 

Kanimozhi, 43, who was accompanied in court by her husband Aravindan, tried to regain her composure after the judgment was pronounced and later told her supporters, “I was expecting the decision.” 

There was shock as the ruling was read out. Her colleagues in the DMK and security guards held each other tearfully as she was taken into the lock-up in the Patiala House court premises. 

Co-accused — and former communications minister — A Raja also looked stunned. The DMK MP is already in jail in connection with the case, related to irregularities in the allocation of airwaves to telecom companies that caused huge losses to the exchequer. Fourteen people, including several corporate leaders, have been charged in the case. 

The court had allowed Kanimozhi to carry her medicines, books and reading glasses to Tihar Jail. It even allowed her home food and a cell with an attached bathroom, but declined her plea to continue wearing her nose pin while in jail. 

RN Sharma, Deputy Inspector General, Prisons, had said there would no VIP treatment for Kanimozhi, who is used to comforts of high life. 

“She has been given a separate cell with attached toilet, the cell has television, fans and light. As far as food is concerned she can have South Indian food. This is not a special allowance as such because we give many other jail inmates South Indian food like idli, vada and sambar,” Sharma said. 

The CBI had named Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar as co-conspirators in its April 25 supplementary chargesheet after it traced an illegal money trail of Rs 214 crore in the scam. 

The court verdict, exactly a week after the DMK was routed in the Tamil Nadu polls, could not have come at a worse time. 

Many political analysts said this is a ‘litmus test’ for the party. 

The DMK, amid fresh strains with its key ally Congress, is holding a crucial meeting in Chennai today to chalk out its plan for the future. 

The DMK top brass is expected to discuss ways to handle the new situation arising out of CBI naming Kanimozhi as co-conspirator in the scam, taking it to the doors of DMK's first family for the first time.
 


RAJIV GANDHI REMEMBERED ; BORN ON 20 AUGUST 1944 DIED ON 21 MAY 1991


By Shafee Ahmed Ko
May 21, year after year is a solemn occasion to reminisce that the 9th Prime Minister of independent India, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the Sri Lankan Thenmuli Rajaratnam alias Dhanu, a human bomber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Siriperumbudur near Chennai,Tamil Nadu.
Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of LTTE, and his intelligence Chief Pottu Amman, conspired and hatched the evil plot and brought a pall gloom in the country by killing the soft leader.
                                          Rajive Gandhi Memorial Delhi
It was so horrendous, and shockingly dreadful to lose a Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a personality marked by seriousness and earnestness. His avant-garde and fine contribution, especially bringing in a computer era is note worthy and millions of young Indians have been benefited.
The role played by Ms.Jayalalithaa to trace the culprits such as Sivarasan, and many others with an iron fist, similar to a Pied Piper-like attitude is quite commendable.
Rajive Gandhi was born on August 20,1944,and died on May 21 1991,at the age of 46.He was the Prime Minister of India in office from 31 October 1984- 2 December 1989.
Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira and Feroze Gandhi. He was educated at Cambridge, where he met Italian-born Sonia Maino, whom he later married. After Cambridge, he became a professional pilot for Indian Airlines. He remained aloof from politics despite his family's political prominence. It was only following the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in 1980 that Rajiv entered politics. Following the assassination of his mother in 1984 afterOperation Blue Star, Indian National Congress party leaders nominated him to be Prime Minister.(Wiki)
                                  Rajive Gandhi Memorial Sriperamadhur Tamil Nadu
He served in Ministry of External Affairs,Ministry of Finance,Ministry of Defence. As he was Prime Minister of India,he had seen two Presidents of India namely Sri Zail Singh, and Ramaswamy Venketraman. He survived a spouse Sonia Gandhi, and two children  Rahul Gandhi,Priyanka Vadra