Chennai:
Kanimozhi's arrest brings to an end, at least temporarily, her much-hyped rise in the DMK family.
On Friday afternoon, the Delhi court hearing the 2G scam case rejected her bail application and ordered her immediate arrest. The DMK Rajya Sabha MP and party chief M Karunanidhi's daughter was then sent to Tihar Jail.
Kanimozhi, seen as the party's urban and articulate Delhi face, is largely believed to be Karunanidhi's favourite child. She shares a love of writing Tamil literature and poetry with him and is the one member of Karunanidhi's family that talks the language of the GenNext.
The DMK MP, now 43, has a Masters in Economics, was a journalist employed with several publications and also ran a website before she joined active politics. She is also a published poet and is seen as Karunanidhi's literary heir while her two half-brothers joust for top honours as his political heir.
She was also actively involved in organising cultural events like Chennai Sangamam, Chennai Marathon and also various job fairs across Tamil Nadu.
Kanimozhi was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2007. The post was a result of family dynamics, when the Maran brothers fell out with the DMK first family over an opinion poll.
Kanimozhi was not known to push for anyone. But her closeness to former Telecom Minister A Raja turned out to be her nemesis.
She was chargesheeted by the CBI for allegedly conspiring with Raja and accepting a Rs. 214-crore bribe via Kalaignar TV. Kanimozhi holds a 20 per cent stake in Kalaignar TV. Raja, her party MP and Dalit leader, has been in Tihar Jail since February for allegedly planning and executing the 2G scam when he was Telecom Minister in 2008.
On Friday, exactly two weeks after she was summoned by the CBI court, her worst fears came true. Her bail plea was dismissed. She was immediately arrested and a couple of hours later sent to Tihar Jail.
By her side were her husband, son and DMK supporters - all shocked and dismayed. The defence argument that women should be shown leniency clearly didn't help.
"Considering the magnitude of the crime and the allegations against Kani, I am unable to show her consideration on grounds of being a woman," the judge observed.
The cards were stacked against Kanimozhi since the day she was chargesheeted in the 2G case, but she was hoping against hope for some relief. When the verdict came on Friday, she was reduced to tears as she embraced her husband.
"If you have a daughter, you will know how I feel," 87-year-old Karunanidhi told reporters in Chennai, visibly upset after Kanimozhi's arrest.
Prison is not a new address for the DMK family. Both Karunanidhi and his son MK Stalin have been the guests of the state during the Emergency and later when Jayalalithaa put them behind bars in 2001 on corruption charges.
But now, it will be a role reversal. The daughter who was a big comfort to her father then will now need all the support and reassurance she can get from him. Ever since she was named in the 2G scam, Karunanidhi has gone out of his way to underscore his solidarity with his daughter.
While her lawyers are almost certain to approach the High Court now, it is Tihar Jail that will be home to the DMK MP, at least for the next few days.