Jayalalithaa case: High court special bench begins hearing

Bengaluru: A special bench of Justice C.R. Kumaraswamy on Monday began hearing of criminal appeals of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa and three others, convicted in a disproportionate assets case. The hearing will be on day-to-day basis as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who lodged a complaint in a Chennai court in 1996 that led to a probe against Ms Jayalalithaa in what later came to be known as the ‘disproportionate assets case’, submitted before the court that he wanted to argue the matter in support of the prosecution.

Senior advocate B. Kumar, appearing for Ms Jayalalithaa, commenced his arguments by reading the FIR and chargesheet before the court adjourned the matter to Tuesday.

Earlier the advocate sought more time to study the SC order, but the special bench judge rejected it, while observing, “Already the court has given a month’s time to study the order copy.

I wouldn't allow this because I have to abide by the SC order, which has directed the Karnataka High Court to conduct the case on day-to-day basis and complete the same in three months time from the date of hearing begins”.