India court denies bail to MP Kanimozhi

[fd24]

Indian MP Kanimozhi, arrested in May in connection with the country's biggest corruption scandal, has been refused bail by a court in the capital, Delhi.

She denies conspiracy and accepting bribes in the alleged mis-selling of telecoms licences, which auditors say cost the country about $40bn (£24.5bn).
The court also announced that the trial would begin on 11 November.

Ms Kanimozhi, 43, is the daughter of M Karunanidhi, an important ally of the Congress-led federal government.
Former telecoms minister A Raja is also in jail in connection with the scandal.

Mr Raja, a party colleague of Ms Kanimozhi, is accused of selling mobile telephony spectrum to firms at a fraction of their real value in exchange for bribes in 2008. He too denies all wrongdoing.

Refusing bail to Ms Kanimozhi and seven others, the court said the "crime committed was a deliberate offence, an economic offence and very serious in nature".

Prosecutors say Ms Kanimozhi took a bribe of $47.6m (£29.3m) through Kalaignar TV - a channel run by the DMK party in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Last month, the federal Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charged her on a number of counts, including criminal conspiracy, forgery, accepting bribes and misuse of office.

The issue of corruption has become a major talking point in India.

Mr Raja is on trial along with 16 others, including former civil servants, top company executives and businessmen, who have also been arrested in connection with the so-called 2G case.

The telecoms scandal has badly damaged the reputation of the government, which has been hit by a series of corruption scandals

Looks like India mean business and are clamping down on p*ss taking politicos. I think the same would be appreciated across the border!

BBC News - India court denies bail to MP Kanimozhi

 

[Loyus]

Indian MP Kanimozhi, arrested in May in connection with the country's biggest corruption scandal, has been refused bail by a court in the capital, Delhi.

She denies conspiracy and accepting bribes in the alleged mis-selling of telecoms licences, which auditors say cost the country about $40bn (£24.5bn).
The court also announced that the trial would begin on 11 November.

Ms Kanimozhi, 43, is the daughter of M Karunanidhi, an important ally of the Congress-led federal government.
Former telecoms minister A Raja is also in jail in connection with the scandal.

Mr Raja, a party colleague of Ms Kanimozhi, is accused of selling mobile telephony spectrum to firms at a fraction of their real value in exchange for bribes in 2008. He too denies all wrongdoing.

Refusing bail to Ms Kanimozhi and seven others, the court said the "crime committed was a deliberate offence, an economic offence and very serious in nature".

Prosecutors say Ms Kanimozhi took a bribe of $47.6m (£29.3m) through Kalaignar TV - a channel run by the DMK party in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Last month, the federal Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charged her on a number of counts, including criminal conspiracy, forgery, accepting bribes and misuse of office.

The issue of corruption has become a major talking point in India.

Mr Raja is on trial along with 16 others, including former civil servants, top company executives and businessmen, who have also been arrested in connection with the so-called 2G case.

The telecoms scandal has badly damaged the reputation of the government, which has been hit by a series of corruption scandals

Looks like India mean business and are clamping down on p*ss taking politicos. I think the same would be appreciated across the border!

BBC News - India court denies bail to MP Kanimozhi

Call this Anna effect and the effort on the part of Government to be strict on prosecution and putting up strong reasonings..But I want this corruption fight to be enshrined in my Constitution.. in the form of Jan Lok Pal, right to service.. Watch out for Anna Hazare.. and watch out for indian parliamnet winter session..Hope the effect rubs on our neighbours too

 

[AvidSpice]

Looks like India mean business and are clamping down on p*ss taking politicos. I think the same would be appreciated across the border!

Fortunately Yes.

Unfortunately, only a few. The bulk of these scumbags still roam free!

 

[Paan Singh]

she will be out soon..they cant keep her too long..

 

[mahi25]

iska naam kanimozi nai kalmuhi rakhna chAHIE tha

 

[Paan Singh]

it is the heitage of india to leave them on bail

 

[majesticpankaj]

Good decision

From Judge OP Saini's order:


Accused Kanimozhi belongs to upper echelons of the socierty and is also a Member of Parliament

By no stretch of imagination she can be said to be suffering from any discrimination on ground of being a woman

Witnesses should have sense of safety and security - one way of generating this is to keep the accused in the custody

Their ultimate objective was to use public money in carefully planned manner for personal use with no right to do it

The order is given solely keeping in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, keeping the best interest of justice in mind

No opposition from the CBI to their bail but that doesn't have any bearing on this case
The facts of the case as well as the charges levelled against the accused are of very serious nature having grave implications for the economy of the country
The persons involved in such offenses, particularly those who continue to reap the benefits of the crime committed by them, do not deserve any indulgence; and any sympathy to them not only being entirely misplaced but also against the larger interest of the society the court cannot be oblivious to the fact that such offenses are preceded by cool, calculated and deliberate design with an eye on personal gains and in fact not all such offenses come to the surface.

If a person knows that even after misappropriating huge public funds, he can come out on bail, after spending a few months in jail, and thereafter he can continue to enjoy the ill-gotten wealth obtained by illegal means, that would only encourage many others to commit similar crimes in the belief that even if they have to spend a few months in jail, they can lead lavish and comfortable lives thereafter, utilizing the public funds acquired by them. In fact, not everyone would mind luxurious living for him and his family, even if it comes at the cost of spending a few months in jail. A strong message therefore needs to be sent to these white-collared criminals and those who are waiting in the wings that in the long run, it does not pay to be on the wrong side of the law.
The community or the state is not persona non-grata whose cause may be treated with disdain. The entire community is aggrieved if economic offenders who ruin the economy of the state are not brought to book.

 

[Ambitious449]

Who is the most luckiest husband in the world? The answer is Kanimozhi's husband. Rs 250 crores in pocket and wife in jail”. On serious note I am happy but not satisfied.

 

[Doctor09]

corrupt politicians nay satyanas kar k rakh diya hai India r Pakistan ka .... sab ku latka du

 

[samv]

Good to see an LTTE supporter behind bars.

 

[tallboy123]

Good to see an LTTE supporter behind bars.

I think u won't sleep or wake up without remembering LTTE all ur life...

 

[kak1978]

The upcoming Winter session of the Parliament will be exciting, It would be great if the Lok Pal is not just passed but also made a constitutional body just as Congress is promising now. That would also set a benchmark/precedence for other countries in the region to implement such laws. Because you know political corruption is a common trait that we share in south asia.

 

[Subramanian]

she is an ltte abuser not supporter