A CBI court has rejected petitions filed by two former AIADMK ministers to cancel the 'cognisance' taken by it to prosecute them in the Rs two crore 'birthday gift case' for abetting former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to receive a huge amount on the occasion of her birthday in 1992.
Principal Special Judge for CBI cases M Mohammad Essath Ali held that 'the argument of the counsel for petitioners that previous sanction is required to take cognisance of section 12 (abetment) of Prevention of Corruption Act is not sustainable'
Stating he found no merit to allow the petitions taking into consideration the provisions of law and a ruling of the Supreme Court,the Judge dismissed the petitions on Thursday.
The former ministers, K A Shengottaiyan and Alagu Thirunavukarasu, had filed petitions to cancel the cognisance taken by the court on the ground that the prosecution had failed to produce necessary sanction to prosecute them.
According to the CBI, on the occasion of her birthday in 1992 the AIADMK supremo had accepted 89 demand drafts worth Rs two crore from 57 persons from various banks drawn on her name. Twelve names were found to be fictitious, 12 others denied that they had purchased DDs while 33 confirmed the purchase and presentation of DDs to Jayalalithaa.
The CBI claimed that Shengottaiyan was one of the 33 persons who had presented an amount of Rs 22.53 lakh in the form of DDs to Jayalalithaa thereby abetting her to accept the gift 'without consideration'.Thirunavukarasu had also presented her with DDs for an amount of Rs22.50 lakh thus abetting her to accept the amount 'without consideration'.
{{/usCountry}}The CBI claimed that Shengottaiyan was one of the 33 persons who had presented an amount of Rs 22.53 lakh in the form of DDs to Jayalalithaa thereby abetting her to accept the gift 'without consideration'.Thirunavukarasu had also presented her with DDs for an amount of Rs22.50 lakh thus abetting her to accept the amount 'without consideration'.
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