SC tells Jaya to appear in DA case

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to appear before a Karnataka trial court on October 20 in connection with the disproportionate assets case against her. HT reports.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to appear before a Karnataka trial court on October 20 in connection with the disproportionate assets case against her.

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A SC bench said the CM would be examined by the trial court and also gave liberty to the judge concerned to examine her request to hold the court at a separate building, other than a regular court.

In view of a request made by the CM, the bench also asked the state government and the trial court to make adequate security arrangements for her visit. Asking the presiding judge to ensure she is examined in a proper environment, the bench said the trial court should complete Jayalalithaa's examination on the same day.

The SC had earlier rejected the AIADMK leader's request to exempt her from personal appearance before the trial court and had offered to record her statement through video conferencing. Jayalalithaa had sought exemption on grounds of threat to her security.

As the bench declined to grant her relief, it observed that Jayalalithaa's petition was an attempt to delay the proceedings. It had asked senior counsel Harish Salve to tell the court the date, which suited the CM. Salve requested for a date after four weeks.

The disproportionate case against her relates to the alleged accumulation of assets worth over R66 crore by her between 1991 and 1996. Jayalalithaa has alleged that the cases were foisted against her by the previous DMK government for political reasons.