2G case: Kanimozhi, 7 others denied bail

New Delhi, November 3, 2011(Tehelkanews)

In a setback to DMK MP Kanimozhi and seven others, a Delhi court on Thursday dismissed their bail pleas in the 2G spectrum allocation case.Special Judge O.P. Saini dismissed the bail pleas, including that of former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, saying the charges levelled against them were of "very serious nature."The others whose bail petitions were dismissed were former Telecom Minister A. Raja's erstwhile Private Secretary R.K. Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetables directors Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal and Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani.

"The facts of the case as well as the charges levelled against the accused are of very serious nature having grave implications for the economy of the country," the court said."I am satisfied that no case for bail is made out for any of the applicants," it said.Brushing aside Ms. Kanimozhi's plea for bail under Section 437 of the Criminal Procedure Code on grounds of being a woman, the court said, "Accused Kanimozhi Karunanithi belongs to upper echelons of the society and is also a Member of Parliament. By no stretch of imagination, she can be said to be suffering from any discrimination on the ground of being a woman."

Special Judge Mr. Saini dismissed her bail application, along with those of four others —Sharad Kumar, Morani, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal — even though CBI had no objection to their release on the ground that they face trial for offences, entailing a maximum jail term of only five years, if convicted.The court rejected CBI's stand saying, "There is no distinction between the accused charged on the basis of main charge sheet and supplementary charge sheet. There is only one charge sheet in the eyes of law."

The court also dismissed the pleas of various accused for bail on the ground that they had been languishing in jail for over five to nine months, while the trial was unlikely to conclude in near future."It is repeatedly submitted that these reasons make out good ground for bail to the accused. I have bestowed my careful and anxious consideration to these submissions. In the facts and circumstances of a particular case, these factors may be relevant consideration but in some cases it may not be so," Mr. Saini said.The court said after framing of charges under "a more serious" section of 409 IPC (criminal breach of trust) which carries life imprisonment as maximum punishment, "there is no favourable change in the case of the accused."


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