The arrest of Kanimozhi, Rajya Sabha member and DMK leader K Karunanidhi’s high-profile daughter, after rejection of her bail plea by a special CBI court, was not unexpected. The details that have come out of her involvement  in the 2G spectrum allocation scandal had clearly pointed to her close connections with those who took vital decisions to fraudulently allocate 2G spectrum, to her role in facilitating the illegalities and to the illegal gains made from the deals. These are yet to be proved in the court but there are strong circumstances that show her complicity. The judge rightly observed when he said that bail was being denied to Kanimozhi “considering the magnitude of the crime, the nature and enormity of the allegations, the character of the evidence on record and the apprehension that witnesses may be influenced in case the accused are released on bail.” That puts the seriousness of the case in perspective.

None of the arguments advanced in her defence carries conviction. No one would believe that she had no knowledge of the Rs 200 crore payment made by a beneficiary firm to Kalaignar TV in which she has a 20 per cent holding. The CBI has documented her proximity to A Raja, the former telecommunications minister who made the wrongful allotments, and there are telephonic conversations that show her interest in making Raja the minister. The CBI’s case that she was the active brain behind the scam can not be easily refuted. She also did not deserve any special consideration for being a woman because the law has to be fair and even-handed. The CBI should ensure that it makes an effective case so that justice finally prevails.

The DMK is deeply embarrassed by her arrest and it has come as a severe blow to the party after its humiliating electoral defeat. But the party has itself to blame because it was its permissive attitude to corruption and lack of respect for public morality that has brought it to this pass. But it is clear that it has not learnt any lessons from its travails because its leadership seems to blame others for them. It is a major partner in the UPA government but the Congress should take care that it does not succumb to any pressure tactics. The Congress itself is reeling under its baggage of corruption and any attempt to help its tainted ally will only be counterproductive.