Two days after their acquittal in the 2G spectrum scam, former Union telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader M Kanimozhi will arrive in Chennai on Saturday and are expected to meet party patriarch M Karunanidhi. The duo is expected to receive a grand welcome from DMK workers upon their arrival in Chennai, according to media reports. Raja and Kanimozhi were among 19 accused who were acquitted by the court in the 2G scam. The other accused acquitted in the case are former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja’s former private secretary RK Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra and three top executives of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG) — Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair. [caption id=“attachment_4269399” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Kanimozhi and A Raja. Agencies[/caption] Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, Kalaignar TV director Sharad Kumar, and Bollywood producer Karim Morani have also been acquitted in the case. Besides them, three telecom firms — Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL), Reliance Telecom Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd — were also cleared of all charges. Special CBI judge OP Saini pronounced the judgment in the 2G scam which had rocked the UPA government. Saini decided the fate of the accused by saying, “I have absolutely no hesitation in holding that prosecution has miserably failed to prove any of the charges against any of the accused”. On Thursday, a number of supporters of Raja and Kanimozhi broke into loud cheers as soon as the verdict was pronounced. DMK supporters were seen bursting firecrackers outside the court complex and showered Raja and Kanimozhi with flowers as soon as they stepped out of court. In its chargesheet filed in April 2011 against Raja and others, the CBI had alleged that there was a loss of Rs 30,984 crore to the exchequer in allocation of 122 licences for 2G spectrum which were scrapped by the Supreme Court on 2 February, 2012. With inputs from agencies
A Raja, Kanimozhi in Chennai highlights: Rajya Sabha MP reaches her residence in CIT Colony, welcomed by supporters
Days after their acquittal in 2G spectrum scam, A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi, will arrive in Chennai on Saturday and are expected to meet M Karunanidhi
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Jail made me stronger and wiser: Kanimozhi
A day after she was acquitted in 2G spectrum case, Kanimozhi told NDTV on Friday that her time in prison made her stronger and wiser politician. “Jail really made me stronger and wiser. I realised how politics works. I read the Mahabharata in jail and that really put things into perspective for me,” Kanimozhi was quoted as saying by NDTV.
She said that her party will continue the alliance with Congress in future too. Kanimozhi added that DMK has differences with the BJP.
Chennai wears festive look on Kanimozhi, A Raja’s arrival
Chennai on Saturday wore a festive look as DMK supporters gathered in large numbers to welcome A Raja and Kanimozhi. Party headquarters was all decked up with DMK flags in order to mark the duo’s return from Delhi.
My father was very happy to see me: Kanimozhi
After meeting party president Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence, Kanimozhi said that her father welcomed her and was very happy to see her. DMK working president MK Stalin presented golden shawls to both Kanimozhi and A Raja.
Report suggest that Kanimozhi will emerge as another power centre in DMK, posing a challenge to Stalin.
– News18
Kanimozhi reaches her residence in CIT Colony after being acquitted in the 2G case, receives welcome by a crowd of supporters
Recap: More visuals of Kanimozhi and A Raja’s arrival in Chennai
DMK leaders Kanimozhi and A Raja received a rousing welcome from DMK workers and supporters on their arrival at Chennai airport after their acquittal in the 2G spectrum allocation case. According to Hindustan Times , frenzied celebrations were witnessed at the airport as folk dancers performed to the beat of drums as DMK cadres, holding posters of Raja and Kanimozhi, crowded the airport to welcome the leaders.
“Want to contest Lok Sabha polls, serve people,” Kanimozhi tells NDTV
DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, wants to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, according to her interview on a news channel.
Kanimozhi said she always wanted to contest elections and serve the people. Asked if she would contest the Lok Sabha polls, the DMK leader told NDTV: “I will ask the party if I can … the party has to make a decision.”
“I always wanted to contest elections … to have a constituency and to be able to work and see things happening,” she said. — PTI
Recap: Here are the charges that former Union telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader M Kanimozhi were acquitted for under the 2G spectrum scam
Kanimozhi, A Raja meet Karunanidhi in Goapalapuram
A Raja, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and DMK working president MK Stalin met party patriarch Karunanidhi at his residence in Gopalapuram and sought his blessings.
A Raja at Karunanidhi’s residence
A Raja and Kanimozhi arrive at Karunanidhi’s residence
A Raja and Kanimozhi’s have arrived at DMK president Karunanidhi’s residence in Gopalapuram in Chennai.
Elevation of A Raja and Kanimozhi expected
Reports suggest that there may be an elevation of A Raja and Kanimozhi in the party. Some DMK members wish that the duo should be elevated in the party. The duo has not held any position in the party for seven years.
– The Financial Express
Kanimozhi’s mother demands elevation of daughter
Rajathi Ammal, Kanimozhi’s mother has demanded elevation for her daughter. She said she was happy for her daughter.
At DMK headquarters party supporters hail Kanimozhi
The road to DMK headquarters in Chennai is dotted with posters and banners of A Raja, Kanimozhi and MK Stalin. In a show of support to Raja and Kanimozhi, party workers are hailing them, shouting slogans.
DMK supporters burst crackers, play music outside M Karunanidhi’s residence
DMK supporters celebrate at M Karunanidhi’s residence
DMK supporters at Chennai airport
A Raja, Kanimozhi head to DMK headquarters
A Raja and Kanimozhi have left the airport and are heading to DMK headquarters. The due will meet party general secretary K Anbazhagan. Following this they will meet party chief M Karunanidhi in Gopalpuram.
A Raja, Kanimozhi land at Chennai airport amid grand welcome
Roadshow of A Raja and Kanimozhi from airport to Gopalapuram
DMK supporters are dancing and singing, waiting for A Raja and Kanimozhi’s arrival. Heavy police security has been deployed at Chennai airport. There will be roadshow from airport to DMK headquarters in Gopalapuram.
Hero’s welcome for A Raja and Kanimozhi
Kanimozhi’s political stock set to rise within DMK after 2G spectrum verdict
Kanimozhi, after coming out clean in 2G spectrum case, is expected to play second fiddle to DMK working president MK Stalin in the party. Kanimozhi will also be the DMK’s face in New Delhi. A Raja is also likely to be promoted politically, according to The Quint report.
DMK workers gather at Chennai airport to welcome A Raja and Kanimozhi
2G verdict can lead to political realignment in Tamil Nadu
The acquittal of DMK Kanimozhi and A Raja, and others by a court in the 2G spectrum case has come as a big boost for the party and could lead to a political realignment in Tamil Nadu, political observers and party leaders say.
There is also a view that DMK will be wooed by the BJP with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. There could be a race between the Congress and BJP to align with DMK.
– IANS
Grand welcome planned by DMK for A Raja and Kanimozhi
Kanimozhi downplays speculations of DMK forging alliance with BJP
Kanimozhi on Friday said that the 2G verdict will not change DMK’s stand on anything. The DMK leader hinted that a partnership with the BJP was unlikely. The DMK is part of a Congress alliance and was part of the UPA government.
– DNA
2G verdict to influence electoral scene in 2019 Lok Sabha polls
The 2G spectrum verdict may open avenues for the DMK switching over to the NDA. The alliance between DMK and BJP has become a possibility specially after Narendra Modi visited party patriarch M Karunanidhi in Chennai to enquire about his health.
You protected me like a baby: A Raja in his letter to Karunanidhi
A Raja in an emotional letter written to M Karunanidhi on Friday said that the party chief stood by him throughout. He said he places the verdict that vindicates the party’s position “at the feet of Karunanidhi” with gratitude. “You protected me like a baby in a mother’s womb to ensure that I did not melt away during the spectrum journey,” Raja said in the letter.
DMK to roll out red carpet for A Raja and Kanimozhi
DMK has given a blow to those who wanted to taint its name: MK Stalin
DMK working president MK Stalin, in a letter to party workers on Friday, said that the 2G verdict has made the DMK stand tall. Stalin said that Raja, during his tenure as telecom minister, made mobile services accessible to economically backward classes.
– The Hindu
A Raja and Kanimozhi will emerge as DMK’s torchbearers
After their acquittal in 2G spectrum case, A Raja and Kanimozhi are expected to rise in DMK under party working president M K Stalin’s leadership. Currently a Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi has already expressed her desire to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
– The Times of India
MK Stalin to greet A Raja and Kanimozhi at Chennai airport
The duo will be greeted by DMK working president MK Stalin. From airport they will head to DMK headquarters and meet party general secretary K Anbazhagan. Following this they will meet party chief M Karunanidhi in Gopalpuram. Kanimozhi will then be given grand reception at her residence in CIT colony.
Judgment raises more questions than answers: CPM
“The judgment of the CBI special court on the 2G spectrum case raises more questions than answers. It was well-established that the allocation of 2G spectrum had caused a big loss calculated to be Rs. 1,76,000 crores by the CAG. The Supreme Court had indicted some of the telecom companies involved for misuse of the allocations and cancelled the licences of concerned companies.
Since the CBI case and prosecution has proved inadequate, steps must be taken immediately to pursue the matter legally, so that those who are guilty are punished.”
DMK’s MK Stalin calls judgment historic
Always held prosecution case was false: Raja
In his first comments after being acquitted in the 2G case, former telecom minister A Raja on Thursday said he stood vindicated as accusations that he took Rs 200 crore bribe to allocate lucrative radio wave spectrum in 2008 were false.
“I have felt somewhat vindicated all along even prior to this judgment because the beneficial results of my actions are evident to and being enjoyed by the nation’s public, especially the poor,” Raja said in a statement.
He said as the telecom minister, he had brought “revolution in the telecom sector” in India. “It is not unknown to history that a person who did a revolution is often termed as a criminal.”
IANS
Congress hits out at Jaitley’s ‘badge of honour’ remark
After acquittal, A Raja says whole case was ‘cooked up’ against him
In Lok Sabha, Congress demands Vinod Rai quits all post, return awards, TMC seeks probe in ex-CAG’s role
A demand for former CAG chief Vinod Rai to quit all posts was made in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, hours after a court ordered acquittal of all the accused in the 2G spectrum scam case which was based on the government auditor’s findings during his tenure.
While senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said Rai should tender an apology to the country, resign from all posts he is holding and return all the awards, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy sought that the former CAG chief should be probed on the issue.
A 2010 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, when Rai was its head, had estimated that there was a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer in the allocation of the 2G spectrum during the then UPA regime.
“Vinod Rai in anxiety gave an estimated loss in the 2G … Now I think he has been awarded…You (NDA government) have awarded him. I think all those awards he has to return. He has to resign from all those posts and tender an apology to the country,” Moily said.
Unitech’s Sanjay Chandra says business suffered damage despite no wrongdoing
Within hours of acquittal in the 2G spectrum allocation case by a special court, Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra said there was no wrongdoing on his part but his company had to pay the price for the case foisted on him. Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group also welcomed the court verdict.
CBI to appeal against acquittal in Delhi HC, says court relied heavily on oral evidence
The CBI has said that the court in its ruling gave oral evidence by the accused more credence than the written and documentary evidence provided by it. The CBI officers also said that the convention is to give written evidence more weight and it is on basis of this that the agency is going to appeal against the acquittal of all accused in the case.
BJP conspired with former CAG Vinod Rai to malign UPA govt: Samajwadi Party