With the CBI special court reserving its verdict till May 14 on chief minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi’s petition objecting to her remand in jail, the DMK camp on Saturday heaved a sigh of relief albeit wondering whether it would be a permanent or temporary one.
However, Mr Karunanidhi was shocked when the CBI came out with a strong objection to his MP daughter’s plea, sources said.
The DMK patriarch would be missing his beloved daughter on May 13, when the results for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls would be out, since she would be appearing before the Enforcement Directorate in New Delhi the same day.
“Whatever be the outcome, whether sharing joy over a victory or consoling each other in case of a defeat, she has been with him for several elections. Kanimozhi, who campaigned for the party, will be answering ED queries when the election trend comes out,” lamented her associate.
On the second consecutive day after Ms Kanimozhi appeared in the CBI court, Mr Karunanidhi remained confined to his Gopalapuram residence on Saturday and watched closely the court developments with his confidants and senior colleagues. DMK seniors and his Cabinet colleagues made a beeline on Saturday, too, to express solidarity with their leader, who was tense throughout the day over the fate of her application.
Party general secretary K. Anbazhagan, deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin and a host of senior ministers were closetted with him in the morning. Sources said he showed keen interest in getting updates from Delhi. “He has been very much worried since morning. He was a little relieved when he came to know about the adjournment,” one of his associates said.
The DMK sources did not expect a strong case from the CBI which elaborately countered senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani’s arguments.