2G: Kanimozhi, 5 others walk out of Tihar jail

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member of Parliament Kanimozhi on Monday walked free out of Tihar Jail after spending 193 days following her arrest in 2G spectrum allocation case and repeated denial of bail that had ignited a debate over bail jurisprudence in the country.

While a huge media contingent waited outside country's largest prison to capture the moments of her coming out, 43-year old Kanimozhi was whisked away in a convoy of cars from a gate which was out of the media's view.

Besides Kanimozhi, those released from the prison on Tuesday included Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, Bollywood  filmmaker Karim Morani and Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Rajiv Aggarwal and Asif Balwa.

The daughter of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who was arrested on May 20, was granted bail yesterday by the Delhi High Court following the Supreme Court's order in the case of five other accused last week.

She had to spend one night extra in prison as orders for her release from Tihar was issued by the special CBI court on Tuesday evening.

Wearing a pink salwar suit, Kanimozhi drove straight to her residence along with her husband Aravindan and more than a dozen DMK MPs have reached there to receive her.

DMK parliamentary party leader T R Baalu gave her a bouquet as she got out of the car at her residence in Central Delhi after a 40-minute drive from the prison.

"Kanimozhi was released at 7.30 PM and all the other four left in one car," Tihar Prison spokesperson Sunil Gupta said.