Daughter in the Jail

The chargeseet naming DMK MP Kanimozhi as a co-conspirator in the 2G scam has created a sharp rift within the DMK-Congress alliance. Fuming at the inclusion of his favourite daughter's name, M. Karunanidhi had to be placated into not withdrawing support to the upa Government. If the DMK pulls out its 18 MPs, the UPA will be reduced to a minority. Both M.K. Azhagiri and M.K. Stalin advised their father not to create "political turmoil". Karunanidhi's grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran also agreed. They told Karunanidhi to wait for the Assembly results on May 13. In case the DMK lost the state, then it made no sense to lose its bargaining power at the Centre as well. Karunanidhi was forced to abandon his daughter in favour of pragmatic politics.

Hours before the chargesheet was filed on April 25, the Tamil Nadu chief minister was asked about the possibility of Kanimozhi being named as an accused. "Being a woman how can you ask such a question?" he said. He then went to the New Secretariat building along with his son, Deputy Chief Minister Stalin and key lieutenants-Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy and Law Minister Durai Murugan. He then spent a while staring blankly at fish swimming in an aquarium at the new secretariat building, waiting for the chargesheet. The octogenarian leader usually spends time at this aquarium when he is depressed.

The 48-page supplementary chargesheet in the 2G case alleges that Kanimozhi acted as a co-conspirator along with former telecom minister A. Raja to transfer a Rs 214-crore kickback to Kalaignar TV in which she has a 20 per cent stake. The money is traced through a circuitous route to DB Realty. While Kalaignar TV claims that this was a loan, the chargesheet states that "this was not a genuine business transaction but was in the nature of illegal gratification" paid in lieu of telecom licences being granted to Swan Telecom, a joint venture of DB Realty. The 'loan' has since been paid back but the refund coincided with CBI summons to Raja in December 2010.

No case has been registered against Dayalu, the chief minister's 80-year-old second wife and mother of Stalin and Azhagiri. She owns 60 per cent share in Kalaignar TV. According to the chargesheet, at a July 27, 2007 board meeting, Dayalu had stated that due to her old age, deterioriating health and the fact that she only understood Tamil, she would attend meetings only for purposes of quorum and nothing else. The BJP is not amused and talks of a deal between the Congress and dmk for leaving out Dayalu's name. Another exclusion that is raising eyebrows is that of lobbyist Niira Radia. However CBI sources claim that she is a witness in the case and the reason why her name was left out is that no bribes can be traced to her.

Karunanidhi is under pressure from his family not to take on the Congress. A day before the charge-sheet was filed, an emotional Azhagiri had told some of his aides, "Why should I remain a minister if my mother is charged as an accused." The exclusion of his mother's name has cooled down his ardour to cut ties with the Congress. He is also worried that if the DMK pulled out of the UPA, then his mother's name could figure in a third chargesheet.

The DMK held a high-level meeting at its party headquarters on April 27. Kanimozhi initially refused to attend. Karunanidhi had to travel all the way from his official residence and pleaded with her to come for the meeting. Clad in a light orange coloured saree, she was unusually reticent with the media. "Why do you want my visuals?" she asked photographers. After the meeting Kanimozhi said, "Whatever questions you have, ask the chief minister. I will face it (the charges) legally."

The meeting was called to express party support for Kanimozhi and satisfy her mother Rajathi, who reportedly yelled at Karunanidhi for not negotiating with the Congress to save her daughter. The meeting reiterated the party's stand that the Rs 214 crore Kalaignar TV transaction was only a loan. The resolution passed at the meeting simply said that Kanimozhi being named in the chargesheet was merely an attempt to defame the DMK.

A gleeful AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa has demanded that Kalaignar TV be shut down. "Karunanidhi and his entire family should be chargesheeted," she said while expressing surprise as to why Dayalu's name had been left out. Adds CPI General Secretary D. Raja, "DMK has reached ideological bankruptcy and is in a crisis. It is in the quagmire of corruption. Its leader Karunanidhi is facing a personality crisis because of corruption."

Azhagiri is believed to have asked Karunanidhi to calm down since they could fight the Kanimozhi case legally. "This is not an embarrassment for the party. We will not face any embarrassment," Karunanidhi told the media. When asked if Kanimozhi would move an anticipatory bail petition, he said that the legal team would take care of it. He issued a separate statement defending his daughter. However, for the moment, the defence will be legal and not political.

Kanimozhi has been summoned to the courts on May 6. If she is arrested and the party loses the election, the DMK would hit an all time low.