File photo of AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
A special court in Bangalore today adjourned to February 21 the hearing on a plea filed by Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh seeking its direction to produce before it the seized silver articles of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case against her and three others.
When the court resumed hearing, Chennai-based Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVC) filed a report saying V Bhaskaran, the then secretary to Jayalalithaa, who was entrusted with the silver articles, was untraceable.
DVC, however, stated there were no records found in Chennai City Corporation establishing the death of Bhaskaran.
However, DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan's counsel produced Bhaskaran's death certificate issued by Vellore Municipal Coporation dated January 9, 2014. "Bhaskaran died on December 2, 2013," he said.
The silver articles were entrusted to Bhaskaran, who was Jayalalithaa's secretary and consultant in 1996, after the investigating agency took the seized gold and diamonds in its custody and produced before the special court in Chennai in 1998.
Judge John Michael D'Cunha directed the SPP and Jayalalithaa's counsel to verify Bhaskaran's death certificate and posted the matter for next hearing.
Anbazhagan, in his objection on February 4, had alleged the SPP had filed the petition inspite of being fully aware of the death of Bhaskaran. He also alleged the SPP, in collusion with Jayalalithaa, was trying to suppress facts to prolong the case.