SC extends bail for Jayalalithaa in disproportionate assets case

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, April 17, 2015 : The Supreme Court on Friday extended the bail of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail in a disproportionate assets case last year, till May 12.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu extended the bail of the AIADMK chief and others till the Karnataka High Court disposed of their appeal against her conviction and sentencing in a disproportionate assets case by the special court. In October last year, Jayalalithaa was given bail for six months.

The apex court also allowed the plea of the Karnataka High Court registry, which had filed an application on behalf of the judge hearing the appeal seeking extension of the deadline of April 18 for disposal of the appeal to May 12. The apex court also gave liberty to the High Court judge to move an application in future for the extension of time for delivering the judgement in view of the fact that a matter connected to the case is pending before the larger bench.

The bench was referring to the petition field by DMK leader K Anbazhagan seeking removal of the Special Public Prosecutor from appearing in the appeal filed before the high court on which the apex court on April 15 had given a split verdict and the matter has been referred for hearing before a three judge bench on April 21.

Here is what has happened in the case so far:

1996: Dr Subramanian Swamy, then a leader of Janata Party, files a case against Jayalalithaa alleging that during her tenure as the CM from 1991 to 1996, she amassed properties worth Rs.66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income.

Dec. 7, 1996: Jayalalithaa arrested.

1997: A prosecution launched in additional sessions court in Chennai against Jaya and three others for having assets disproportionate to their known income.

June 4, 1997: Chargesheeted for offences under sections 120-B IPC, 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
 
Oct. 1, 1997: The Madras High Court dismisses three petitions by Jaya, including one challenging sanction granted by then Governor M. Fathima Beevi (right) for prosecuting her in the case. Trial progresses.

Aug. 2000: 250 prosecution witnesses examined, only 10 more remains. In the 2001 May Assembly polls, AIADMK secures absolute majority and Jaya becomes CM. Her appointment is challenged due to her conviction in October 2000 in the TANSI (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation) case. SC nullifies appointment.

Sept. 2001: After her conviction is set aside, Jaya is elected to the Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency on Feb. 21, 2002, and again sworn in as CM.

2003: DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan (right) approaches SC for transferring the trial to Karnataka on ground that a fair trial was not possible in TN with Jaya as CM.

Nov 18, 2003: SC transfers case to Bangalore.

Feb 19, 2005: Karnataka government appoints B.V. Acharya, a former advocate general, as special public prosecutor (SPP) to conduct the prosecution.

Oct-Nov 2011: Jaya deposes in special court and answers 1,339 questions.

Aug. 12, 2012: Acharya expresses his inability to continue as SPP. Karnataka govt accepts his resignation in Jan. 2013 and discharges him from the case.

Feb. 2, 2013: Karnataka govt appoints G. Bhavani Singh as SPP.

Aug 26, 2013: Karnataka govt issues a notification withdrawing appointment of Bhavani Singh (right) as SPP without assigning any reason and without consulting the chief justice of Karnataka HC.

Sept 30, 2013: SC quashes the notification withdrawing appointment of Bhavani Singh as SPP.

Dec 12, 2013: Special court allows a plea by Anbazhagan and directs production of valuables and other assets seized from Jaya in 1997 and deposit in an RBI treasury in Chennai.

March 14-15, 2014: Special court imposes a fine of one-day salary on Bhavani Singh for not resuming final arguments citing ill health.

March18: Singh moves Karnataka HC challenging special court order.

March 21: HC rejects his petition.

Aug 28: Special court reserves judgment for Sept. 20 and directs all four accused to appear before it on that date.

Sept 16: Special court defers pronouncement of its verdict by a week.

Sept 27, 2014: Special court convicts Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday