Dayalu Ammal, the 82 year old wife of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi and mother of Kanimozhi, will now have to appear before a trial court in the 2G spectrum case as a witness after the court did not grant an exemption to her on medical grounds.

Dayalu Ammal is the mother of Kanimozhi, who is one of the accused, and she also held 60 per cent equity stake in Kalaignar TV that was involved in transferring a bribe of Rs 200 crore in the 2G spectrum case. Ammal was earlier exempted from appearing in the court on medical grounds in May, 2013.

Dayalu Ammal's lawyer, P Kumaresan was seeking exemption on medical grounds claiming that she has Alzheimer's and had related senility issues. Judge O P Saini dismissed the plea and observed that her condition is normal to her age. The judge has ordered her presence in the court on July 8 and said that there is no need for a medical board to assess her mental and physical capacity to appear as a witness in the court.

The judge has affirmed that no inconvenience would be caused to her and her dignity would be maintained. He observed that she can understand questions and provide rational replies to them in the court.