A Delhi court on Friday ordered “forthwith” arrest of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar after rejecting their bail pleas in the 2G spectrum case.
“The bail applications are dismissed. Both the accused be taken into custody forthwith,” Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini said.
The court directed that Ms. Kanimozhi and Mr. Kumar should be produced before it at 10 a.m. on Saturday, when the case comes up for hearing.
DMK leaders, including its parliamentary party chief T.R. Baalu, was present in the court.
Minutes after the court pronounced its order, some of DMK supporters broke down while others were seen making frantic calls.
The court in its 144-page order said that most of the witnesses against the DMK MP are the employees of Kalaignar TV and hence the possibility of they being influenced cannot be ruled out.
“Considering the magnitude of the crime and the fact that many of the witnesses are employees of Kalaignar TV, there is every apprehension that the witnesses may be influenced, if the accused are released on bail,” the CBI judge said.
The court also considered the “enormity” of the offence while rejecting the bail of Ms. Kanimozhi and Mr. Sharad Kumar.
“Considering the magnitude of the crime, nature and enormity of the allegations, character of evidence on record and the apprehension that the witnesses may be influenced in case the accused are released on bail, I have no hesitation in holding that both applicants/accused have failed to make out a prima facie case for bail. Bail applications are without merit and the same are dismissed,” the judge said.
The court, however, clarified that its observations were “tentative” and they do not express any opinion on the merits of the case.
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