No attempt to protract assets case, Jayalalithaa tells court

Bangalore: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today filed objections against DMK General Secretary's memo alleging that Special Public Prosecutor was trying to protract the disproportionate case against her and three others by submitting irrelevant facts before the court.

Jayalalithaa prayed before Special Court Judge John Michael D'Cunha that the DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan's memo be rejected as not maintainable with costs and thus render justice.

J Jayalalithaa. AFP image

SPP Bhavani Singh, in his plea on February 3, had sought Court's direction to produce before it the seized silver articles weighing 1,116 kg, which were entrusted to V Baskaran, Jayalalithaa's secretary and consultant in 1996.

Anbazhagan, in his objection on February 4, had alleged that the SPP had filed the petition inspite of being fully aware of the death of Baskaran. He also alleged that the SPP in collusion with Jayalalithaa is trying to suppress facts to prolong the case.

Countering these allegations, Jayalalithaa submitted that Baskaran's death does not absolve the liability of producing 1,116 kgs of silver wares in the court.

The silver articles were entrusted to Baskaran, who was Jayalalithaa's secretary and consultant in 1996, after the investigating agency took the seized gold and diamond in its custody and produced before Special Court in Chennai in 1998.

Jayalalithaa submitted that she and three other accused were not present at the time of the alleged search and seizure of silver articles and there is no record to show she was intimated about entrustment of the seized silver articles.

"Hence allegation that the custody of silver articles were entrusted to me by the court, is without any basis, imaginary and made with ulterior motives," she said.

Jayalalithaa submitted that Singh has discharged his duties diligently and without any favour or fear. "Anbazhagan is in the habit of making false allegations against the SPP and also made defamatory statements against him," she said.

On December 12 last year, the court had ordered the transit of the seized material by December 21, stating it was required for giving fair justice. A plea in this regard was filed by Anbazhagan before the court.

In his application, Anbazhagan had pleaded that the court take custody of 800 kg silver, 28 kg gold, 750 pairs of shoes, 10,500 sarees, 91 watches and other items seized in a raid in 1997 as evidence.

The judge posted the matter to February 15.

PTI