Karnataka HC refused to discharge Jayalalithaa from Disproportionate Wealth Case

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa, seeking to quash a Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate wealth case pending against her in a special court in Bengaluru.

The court also rejected her prayer for quashing a 1997 order of a Chennai trial court which took cognizance of Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) complaint that she amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income when she was chief minister of Tamil Nadu between 1991 and 1996.

While dismissing the petition, Justice K. N. Keshavanarayana held that the trial court order taking cognizance of the complaint on June 5, 1997 did not suffer from any illegality or irregularity.

The judge observed that the petitioner, “effectively represented by eminent lawyers”, had participated in the trial of the case during which as many as 200 witnesses were examined and cross-examined over a 13 year period.

“It is not open for her now to seek quashing of the proceedings on the premises that the order taking cognisance of the offence passed on June 5, 1997 is a nullity and is not in accordance with law,” the court said.

Finding no error in the 1997 order, Justice Keshavanarayana held it could not be said that the special judge at Chennai had not applied his mind to the materials placed before him and that he had not taken cognizance of offence after making himself aware of the case.

On the order of the Supreme Court, the case was transfered to Karnataka in 2003, on a petition filed by DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan, when Jayalalithaa was chief minister.

- Asian Tribune -