Karuna receives Kani party hails homecoming

Will prove my innocence, vows the DMK MP after being released on bail.

After spending 193 days in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, DMK MP Kanimozhi returned here on Saturday to a rousing reception by the party cadres.

Accompanied by husband Aravindan and son Aditya, Kanimozhi was received at the airport by her 87-year-old father and DMK President M Karunanidhi and step brother M K Stalin, among others. Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal, Karunanidhi’s other wife Dayalu Ammal and her daughter Selvi also welcomed her at the airport.

Hundreds of party members broke into celebrations as the DMK MP stepped out of the airport to join her family after more than six months of incarceration. They also carried placards saying ‘Chennai Sangamame varuga varuga (welcome)’, in reference to the annual cultural show organised by her during Pongal festivities. Party flags and banners with pictures of Kanimozhi and Karunanidhi were lined up along the road leading to the airport.

“I am very happy to be going back (to Chennai). We are all happy that finally people are getting bail in the case. This is the first step,” Kanimozhi told reporters at the Delhi airport before boarding the flight to Chennai. Asked about her next step, the Rajya Sabha member said, “I have to prove my innocence and face the case legally and get out of it. I am confident of doing this.”

On May 20, the 43-year-old Rajya Sabha MP was arrested by the CBI in connection with the alleged payment of Rs 200 crore by the DB Group to DMK-run Kalaignar TV, where she is one of the directors. After the denial of bail by the trial court, high court and the Supreme Court on earlier occasions, Kanimozhi was finally granted relief by the Delhi High Court on November 28.

Since she had to attend court proceedings, Kanimozhi chose to stay back in Delhi and arrived here on Saturday. Besides Kanimozhi, others granted bail include Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar, Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani and Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Rajiv Aggarwal and Asif Balwa.

From the airport, Kanimozhi drove to her residence with Karunanidhi sitting beside her in the car. “I really feel happy coming back. I am thankful to my people and party for so much support. It’s a balm for the pains I have gone through in the past six months,” she told reporters on arriving at the CIT Colony residence. She was accorded a traditional welcome by party members, with women workers performing ‘aarti’ and applying ‘sindhoor’ on her forehead. Jubilant party workers also burst crackers while bands played victory songs, hailing Kanimozhi.