NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail applications of both DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar.Justice Ajit Bharihoke, breaking the tradition of not appearing during the summer vacation, came into the High Court and pronounced his verdict in view of the urgency of the matter.Dismissing the bail pleas, Justice Bharihoke in his identical 37-page judgments for both the 2G scam accused, stated the possibility of the petitioners interfering with the investigation or trying to influence the witnesses could not be ruled out as Kanimozhi wields considerable financial and political clout—belonging to the same party as that of A Raja, co-accused and former Telecom Minister, and the said party sharing power in the Central government.Kanimozhi will now have to spend time in the Tihar jail until the Supreme Court decides on her bail plea, if she chooses to move it.Justice Bharihoke, putting the entire history of the scam in perspective, said, “The above facts and circumstances, prima facie show the complicity of the petitioners in the conspiracy and their having received illegal gratification of `200 crore in the account of the company controlled by them, namely Kalaignar TV.” He also said the trail of money exposed their intent to conceal the transaction, on account of which the State suffered a loss of about `30,000 crore.Finally, the judge said that Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar, being in control of Kalaignar TV, were in a position to influence witnesses of the company, and denied bail.Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal broke down on hearing the order and rushed out of the courtroom.DMK Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu followed her out and consoled her, apparently telling her all was not lost and that they could still move the apex court.Justice Bharihoke also issued notice to the CBI on the bail pleas of Swan telecom promoter Shahid Balwa and two other accused in the 2G spectrum scam.
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