Delhi High Court gave path-breaking verdicts in 2011

NEW DELHI: DMK MP Kanimozhi getting bail along with other high profile accused in 2G case and upholding of jail term given to Sukhram in telecom scam kept in news the Delhi High Court, which in 2011 also questioned the basis of the cash-for-vote matter and granted bail to six accused.

The court's other significant orders and decisions included its refusal to grant interim stay on minority status accorded to Jamia Milia Islamia University, acquittal of sacked IPS officer R K Sharma in journalist Shivani Bhatnagar case and staying imminent deportation of 151 Pakistani Hindus, overstaying here on pilgrimage visa.

Amidst all this, terror hit the High Court which claimed 17 lives at its doorstep on September 7. A powerful suitcase bomb ripped through the crowded reception area in which 90 persons were also injured.

However, cases involving politicians and corporates kept the court busy.

Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, daughter of veteran Dravidian leader M Karunanidhi, Kalaignar TV CEO Sharad Kumar, Bollywood producer Karim Morani and two others got bail in the 2G case on the ground of parity after the apex court granted bail to five corporate honchos, saying "bail is rule and jail is exception."

However, former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, who is left in jail along with A Raja since their arrest on February 2, was not so lucky as the court allowed CBI's plea that role of public servants be put to "stricter" scrutiny as they are expected to be different from other accused.

The court said Behura was the "perpetrator" of the illegal design of Raja and cannot claim benefit of parity with 10 others released on bail.