2G case: Court cancels non-bailable warrant against Kanimozhi for non-appearance

A special court today issued non-bailable warrant against DMK MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in 2G spectrum case, for non-appearance only to cancel it in less than an hour after her counsel appeared before it and apologised.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini had issued the NBW against her for December 19, noting that neither she nor her counsel had appeared before the court. "It is 11.30 AM, neither any advocate for Kanimozhi is present nor any application for her exemption from personal appearance has been filed," the judge said.

The matter was fixed for commencement of final arguments in the case and Kanimozhi failed to appear before it. However, the court later cancelled the NBW while allowing the application of Kanimozhi's counsel who appeared before it at 12.25 PM.

"NBW is hereby cancelled. He (counsel for Kanimozhi) is advised to be careful in the future." The court fixed December 19 for hearing final arguments as the counsel for the CBI and the accused sought time to advance the arguments.

Besides A Raja and his erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, who were present in the court, other accused including former Telecom Secretary Sidharth Behura, Swan telecom promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka moved exemption plea through their lawyers which was allowed by the judge.