Kanimozhi, others seek early hearing of bail pleas

Encouraged by the Supreme Court order granting bail to five corporate executives in the 2G case on Wednesday, Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam Member of Parliament Kanimozhi and five other accused moved the Delhi high court for early hearing of their bail pleas.

Shortly after the Supreme Court order in the morning, counsel for the accused approached the high court registry for early listing of the matter which is now scheduled to be heard on December 1 by Justice V K Shali.

Apart from Kanimozhi, others who have pleaded for bail are former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, DMK-run Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar and Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd.

The accused had moved the high court challenging the November 3 order of the special court denying them bail.

In her bail plea, Kanimozhi's counsel senior advocate Altaf Ahmed had contended that the trial court has ignored the CBI's willingness to allow bail to the five accused (Kanimozhi, Kumar, Asif, Rajiv and Morani).

He had pointed out that the apex court earlier, while denying her the bail, had granted her the liberty to move the trial court for it after framing of charges.

The senior counsel had also reiterated that Kanimozhi was not a direct beneficiary of the alleged scam and the Rs 200 crore transaction from Shahid Balwa's DB Group to DMK-run Kalaignar TV was a valid "inter-corporate deposit".

DMK supremo Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi has been in Tihar Jail since her arrest on May 20.