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Journalism of Courage
After spending 193 days in Delhi’s Tihar Jail following her arrest in the 2G case,DMK MP Kanimozhi returned to Chennai on Saturday to a rousing reception by the party cadres.
Kanimozhi,accompanied by husband Aravindan and son Aditya,was received at the airport by her 87-year old father and DMK President M Karunanidhi and step brother MK Stalin among others.
Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal,Karunanidhi’s wife and Director of Kalaingar TV Dayalu Ammal,her daughter Selvi also welcomed her at the airport.
Hundreds of party cadres broke into celebrations beating drums and dancing as the DMK MP stepped out of the airport to join the family members after more than six months of incarceration.
They also carried placards hailing Kanimozhi as “Chennai Sangamame varuga varuga (welcome)”,in a reference to the annual cultural show organised by her during Pongal festivities.
DMK party flags and banners with pictures of Kanimozhi and Karunanidhi were lined up along the road leading to the airport.
Kanimozhi,who was granted bail by the Delhi High Court,told reporters at Delhi airport before boarding the flight to Chennai that she would prove her innocence in the court and termed grant of bail to her as the “first step”.
“I am very happy to be going back (to Chennai).I am looking forward to my visit in Chennai. We are all happy that finally people are getting bail in the case.This is the first step,” Kanimozhi told reporters in New Delhi before boarding a flight to Chennai.
Asked about her next step,the DMK 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.”
The 43-year-old MP was arrested on May 20 by the CBI in connection with alleged payment of Rs 200 crores by the DB Group to DMK-run Kalaignar TV in which she is one of the Directors.
After denial of bail by the trial court,high court and the Supreme court on earlier occasions,Kanimozhi was finally granted the relief by the High Court on November 28.
Since she had to attend the court proceedings in the next few days,Kanimozhi chose to stay back in Delhi and arrived here today.
Besides Kanimozhi,others granted bail by the high court are Kalaignar TV MD 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 by her side in the car.
“I really feel happy coming back..I am thankful to my people and party for so much support and for the pains I have gone through in the past six months,its a balm to see them back all,” she told reporters on arriving at the CIT Colony residence.
She was accorded a traditional welcome by party cadres with women workers performing ‘aarti’ and applying ‘sindhoor’ on her forehead.
Jubilant party workers also burst crackers while band played victory songs,hailing Kanimozhi.
