This Article is From May 24, 2011

Jayalalithaa: Kanimozhi shouldn't be granted bail because she is a woman

Chennai: In her first press conference since she took over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa today said that action taken in the 2G scam case had restored people's faith in the judiciary.

Jayalalithaa also said that Kanimozhi, DMK Rajya Sabha MP and daughter of her arch political rival Karunanidhi, should not be granted bail in the case just because she is a woman.

"It's a wrong argument for bail. In politics, no concession is given because you are a woman. The same applies for criminal activities," she said at a press conference here.

During Kanimozhi's bail plea hearing, her lawyer Ram Jethmalani had argued before the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in New Delhi that she should be granted bail as she was a woman and she was not involved in the day to day operations of Kalaignar TV.

The CBI named Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar as co-conspirators in its April 25 supplementary chargesheet after it traced an illegal money trail of Rs.214 crore in the 2G scam to the channel, majority-owned by the family of DMK chief M Karunanidhi.

Kanimozhi has been in Tihar Jail since Friday last, when the special court hearing the 2G case ordered her immediate arrest while dismissing her bail application.

 'Finally, the law is taking its course,' Jayalalithaa said.

Regarding fulfilling the promises she made in the AIADMK manifesto before the state elections, she said a number of announcements will be made in the Governor's address in the Assembly on June 3.

She added that the cabinet will also take a decision whether to take a re-look at DMK government's various schemes regarding insurance, housing and the Metro rail.
 
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