Disappointment all over as bail eludes 2G accused, again

“The bails applications are dismissed.” With that one-line delivered, Special CBI judge OP Saini stunned a jam-packed courtroom into silence. There was much anticipation of bail being granted to some of the 2G accused, especially after the CBI had not opposed bail for five of the eight who had applied for bail at the special CBI court. [caption id=“attachment_122561” align=“alignright” width=“380” caption=“Kanimozhi’s husband was visibly upset. Reuters”]  [/caption] But the Judge dashed everyone’s hopes leaving the accused and relatives in utter shock and disbelief. Putting up a brave front, DMK MP Kanimozhi, who was joined by her husband and son in court, after the order was read out, was heard saying to her well-wisher that the court wanted to “send out a strong message”. She hugged her son while people around her, some of them in tears, tried to console her. Also present was former Telecom Minister and accused A Raja’s wife who seemed shaken by the blanket dismissal of all bail applications. “Don’t worry,” she said to Kanimozhi. Kanimozhi’s husband was visibly upset, briefly losing his cool. Joining them in what was clearly a very emotional time, was south Indian actress Khushboo. It was at this point that the normally composed Kanimozhi was irked at the media’s presence at the courtroom. “Are you human beings,” she said to journalists who were crowding around her family. The order must have come as blow also for Bollywood producer Karim Morani, who had applied for bail on health grounds. His daughters broke down. Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar looked dejected as he sat with his family. Former Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura was seen discussing order with his lawyer and family. The order runs into 76 pages. The others accused in the 2G case whose bail pleas were denied today were RK Chandolia, Raja’s former private secretary, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa and Asif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables. While lawyers held discussions with their clients the media was asked to leave the courtroom. The accused then emerged one by one, accompanied by their close relatives, out of the courtroom. The disappointment and heartbreak as they walked out of court was impossible to miss. More emotional scenes followed before they were taken back into custody by the police. All eyes now are on the Supreme Court that has reserved its order on the bail pleas of five of corporate heads who are accused in the 2G case. Trial in the 2G case begins on 11 November.