It's a nightmare coming true for the DMK and its chief M. Karunanidhi.
Daughter Kanimozhi is now the latest high-profile entrant to Tihar Central Jail - following in the steps of over a dozen VIPs who are already lodged in India's largest prison.
The poet MP was arrested after CBI special judge O.P. Saini rejected her bail plea today, adding that she be arrested immediately - directing an appearance at 10 am tomorrow.
Also going to prison is Sharad Kumar, MD and CEO of Kalaignar TV.
"Both the bail applications (of Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar) are dismissed. As per the court orders, they are to be taken into custody," Judge Saini said.
Supporters in tears
First to collapse, right after the verdict, was Kanimozhi's bodyguard. The shock then hit the rest of the DMK.
Family members and supporters, who waited four hours for the pronouncement of order on her bail, turned gloomy and some even cried inconsolably when women constables effected arrest and took her inside the lock-up.
And even as she tried to conceal her emotions Kanimozhi, wearing an orange 'salwar suit', finally broke down as she was taken into a waiting police vehicle.
The writ of women constables forcing her family members to leave her while effecting the arrest created a scene as all the female relatives started crying.
'Hurt' Karunanidhi
Upset over the arrest, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today said he was in a position like that of any father whose daughter faced a similar situation for no fault of hers and said the party general council would decide on future ties with Congress.
"I am in a position like any other father who has a daughter and was arrested for no fault of her," 87-year-old Karunanidhi told reporters in Chennai.
Emerging from a meeting with senior DMK leaders at his and Kanimozhi's CIT Colony residence, he said he would consult legal experts on moving the Delhi High Court for securing bail for her.
Asked whether the party's ties with Congress would remain intact, Karunanidhi, avoiding a direct reply, said his party would have good relations with all parties.
Also, a jail visit is not likely right away as the former CM ruled out an immediate trip to Delhi. However, Kanimozhi's mother Rajathi Ammal has already left for Delhi. She was seen sobbing when she arrived at the airport in Chennai.
Life in Tihar
Kanimozhi, who told reporters that 'she was expecting the decision' is now in India's most notorious prison.
"Kanimozhi is already in Tihar. She is in Jail number 6, which is the women's cell, and ward number 8. She is kept in a separate cell," R.N. Sharma, deputy inspector general for prisons said.
Sharma also informed that there will be no VIP treatment for Kanimozhi, who is used to comforts of high life.
Like the other high-profile entrants, she will also follow the jail's schedule.
"She has been given a separate cell with attached toilet. The cell has television, fans and light. She can have south Indian food. This is not a special allowance as such because we give many other jail inmates who take south Indian food like idli, vada and sambar," Sharma added.
He also said that as per norms she will be allowed to meet relatives twice a week.
The court allowed Kanimozhi, 43, to carry her medicines, books and reading glasses to the jail. It even allowed her home food, but declined her plea to be allowed to continue wearing her nose-pin while in jail.
The court rejected the submission of her counsel that she be granted bail because she is a woman.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had named Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar as co-conspirators in its April 25 supplementary charge sheet after it traced an illegal money trail of Rs.214 crore in the 2G scam.
"The allegations in the instant case are that parties were in conspiracy with each other and in the conspiracy, each party is considered agent of the other and one cannot perform his act or role without the support from other," said the court.
Some of the other high-profile inmates currently in Tihar Jail include former communications minister A. Raja - an accused in the 2G spectrum case, former chief of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi, who is in custody over financial irregularities in the conduct of the games, and other senior officials of the organising committee.
The case against Kani
The CBI had chargesheeted Kanimozhi on April 25, for her alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam. It had indicted her for taking a bribe to the tune of Rs 200 crore, which was routed to Kalaignar TV, in which she has 20 percent stake.
The money was routed to the TV channel by DB Realty of Shahid Usman Balwa, who was of one of the beneficiaries of the 2G spectrum allocation scam, with his another firm, Swan Telecom, securing the 2G spectrum licence during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A. Raja of her party.
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