DMK calls emergency meet after Kanimozhi refused bail

Chennai: In the wake of the Delhi High Court denying bail to DMK MP and party chief M Karunanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi, in the 2G spectrum case, an emergency meeting of the party's top brass will be held on June 10.

This will also be the first meeting of the party's high-level Action Committee after the DMK's drubbing in the Assembly polls in which it finished third, with fledgling DMDK becoming the principal Opposition.

The DMK headquarters issued a press release saying all members have been asked to "participate without fail".

The party has been going through a rough patch of late, with Kanimozhi and Karunanidhi's trusted junior colleague and former Telecom Minister A Raja lodged in jail for their alleged roles in the 2G spectrum scam allocation.

Karunanidhi's grandnephew and Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran is also under the scanner in the 2G case.

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Kanimozhi's attempts to secure bail have failed with both a trial court and the High Court dismissing her bail plea.

DMK's ties with seven year-old ally Congress have not been smooth either, with strains coming to the fore during the seat sharing discussions for the Assembly polls.

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The DMK patriarch had on Sunday blamed the Centre for the arrest of Kanimozhi, saying it was either due to its "orders or complacency."

Kanimozhi's application for bail was rejected by the Delhi High Court this morning. The young MP from the DMK has been accused of accepting a Rs. 214-crore bribe along with former Telecom Minister A Raja. She was arrested in May by the CBI, which is investigating the 2G scam, described as India's largest-ever swindle. The judge today said, "There's prima facie evidence to suggest they were beneficiaries and received illegal gratification."

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"Considering the political and financial clout of the accused, the possibility of them tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses, the magnitude of the offence they've been charged with, their bail pleas are dismissed," said the judge. He also refused bail to Sharad Kumar, who co-owns a TV channel with Kanimozhi in Chennai.   

Kanimozhi's lawyer had applied for bail on the grounds that she needs to look after her young son, since her husband travels abroad frequently for work. DMK leader TR Baalu, who was present in court today, said they would approach the Supreme Court soon against the High Court verdict.