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Kani finally gets bail after 6 months 
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, November 28
The Delhi High Court today granted bail to DMK’s Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi lodged in Tihar Jail since May 20 in connection with the 2G scam.

Justice VK Shali also granted bail to four others accused in the case — Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani and Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Private Limited directors Rajiv Aggarwal and Asif Balwa.

The high court ordered their release after securing a bond with two solvent sureties, each for Rs 5 lakh, from each one of them. The judge clarified that the CBI was free to approach it seeking cancellation of their bail if they tried to influence the witnesses or remained absent from the trial without the court’s permission.

Despite getting bail, Kanimozhi and the others would spend one more night in Tihar Jail, as they could not execute the bail bonds in time. The trial court of Special Judge OP Saini waited in his chamber till 5.15 pm for receiving the bonds at the request of the advocates appearing for the accused. Kanimozhi’s counsel R Shanmugasundaram said the bonds would now be submitted to the trial court only tomorrow morning for getting their release orders.

In Chennai, Kanimozhi’s father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said he was happy about his daughter getting bail. He said she called him shortly after the court order and “both of us shared the happiness.”

The high court clarified that the bail conditions were similar to those imposed by the Supreme Court on November 23 while ordering the release of five top corporate executives involved in the case. In its order, the SC had pointed out that keeping the 2G accused behind the bars even after the trial had begun was not in the interest of justice. Also, it was against the judicial dictum of “bail is rule, jail is an exception,” the apex court had clarified.

Today, the high court also reserved its order on the bail plea of another accused, former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura, as the CBI opposed his plea. In the case of Kanimozhi and the four others, the CBI said it did not have any objection to their bail.