2G case: Court cancels NBW against Kanimozhi for non-appearance

The court fixed Dec 19 for hearing final arguments as the counsel for the CBI and the accused sought time to advance the arguments

A special court on Monday issued non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in telecom spectrum case, for non-appearance, only to cancel it in less than an hour, after her counsel appeared before it and apologised.

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O P Saini had issued the NBW against her for December 19, noting neither she nor her counsel had appeared before the court.

“It is 11:30 am, neither any advocate for Kanimozhi is present, nor any application for her exemption from personal appearance has been filed,” the judge said.

The matter was fixed for commencement of final arguments in the case and Kanimozhi failed to appear before it.

However, the court later cancelled the NBW while allowing the application of Kanimozhi’s counsel who appeared before it at 12.25 pm.

The court fixed December 19 for hearing final arguments as the counsel for CBI and the accused sought time to advance the arguments.

Besides A Raja and his erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, who were present in the court, other accused including former telecom secretary Sidharth Behura, Swan telecom promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka moved exemption plea through their lawyers which was allowed by the judge.