Kanimozhi arrives in Chennai, Karunanidhi welcomes her at airport

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Chennai:  It's a homecoming that DMK chief M Karunanidhi had been eagerly waiting for. After being released from jail earlier this week, his daughter Kanimozhi finally reached Chennai today and was accorded a grand welcome.

The DMK MP arrived in Chennai at around 1:45 pm. It was an emotional family reunion as her father Karunanidhi, mother Rajathi Ammal, husband Aravindan and son Aditya received her at the airport. Apart from them, other members of the DMK first family - like her step brother MK Stalin, his sister and Karunanidhi's second wife Dayalu Ammal - were also present at the airport to welcome her. 

Hundreds of party cadres broke into celebrations beating drums and dancing as Kanimozhi stepped out of the airport to join her family members after more than six months in jail.  Overwhelmed with joy, they even showered her with flower petals. 

DMK party flags and banners with pictures of Kanimozhi and Karunanidhi were lined up along the road leading to the airport. 

"I feel really happy coming back... I am thankful to my people and the party for so much support, and for the pains I have gone through in the past six months... It is a balm to see them all back," said Kanimozhi.

While leaving for Chennai, the Rajya Sabha MP had said, "More than the bail, it is important for me and the others to prove our innocence." 

Kanimozhi, 43, walked out of the Tihar Jail on November 29 after the Delhi High Court granted her bail. She was arrested on May 20 for her alleged role in the telecom scam. After four earlier unsuccessful attempts, she was granted bail by the Delhi High Court. 

Her party, the DMK, is already suggesting that she be conferred with some sort of martyr status.

"She has shown great will power... she deserves an important post in the party", DMK MP Vasanthi Stanley had said the day she got bail.

Kanimozhi is accused of allowing a TV channel co-owned by her to serve as the landing place for a 214-crore kickback that was paid to her partyman, A Raja, when he was Telecom Minister. Fourteen people including Kanimozhi and A Raja are on trial for the telecom scam. Twelve of them have so far been released on bail.