New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on November 23 the Karnataka government's plea challenging the state high court verdict acquitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and three others in a corruption case.
A bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice RK Agrawal adjourned the hearing as Karnataka government had sought six weeks time to file its rejoinder to the reply filed by Ms Jayalalithaa and others in pursuance to the notice issued by the court on July 27.
Besides Ms Jayalalithaa, the notice was also to other accused N. Sasikala, VN Sudhakaran, and J Elavarasi. Ms Sasikala was a former aide of Ms Jayalalithaa and Sudhakaran the AIADMK chief's disowned foster son.
The apex court on July 27 had also issued notice on the petition by DMK leader K Anbazhagan and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, both challenging the high court verdict acquitting Ms Jayalalithaa.
In 2014, a trial court in Bengaluru sentenced Ms Jayalalithaa to four years in jail and imposed a Rs 100 crore fine in the disproportionate assets case. But the high court accepted Ms Jayalalithaa's appeal and acquitted her of all charges this year.
The high court, holding the value of Ms Jayalalithaa's disproportionate assets at Rs 2.82 crore, instead of Rs 53.6 crore computed by the trial court, held the amount "not enough" to convict her on corruption charges.
Justice CR Kumaraswamy also acquitted the three co-convicts, sentenced to four years in jail and fined Rs 10 crore each for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income during her first term as chief minister from 1991-96.
The high court's order was faulted for glaring arithmetical errors, especially in respect of details of assets, loan raised and income earned.
Ms Jayalalithaa, who was elected from Srirangam in May 2011, had lost her seat and the chief minister's post after the trial court's verdict.
She returned as chief minister after being acquitted.
A bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice RK Agrawal adjourned the hearing as Karnataka government had sought six weeks time to file its rejoinder to the reply filed by Ms Jayalalithaa and others in pursuance to the notice issued by the court on July 27.
Besides Ms Jayalalithaa, the notice was also to other accused N. Sasikala, VN Sudhakaran, and J Elavarasi. Ms Sasikala was a former aide of Ms Jayalalithaa and Sudhakaran the AIADMK chief's disowned foster son.
In 2014, a trial court in Bengaluru sentenced Ms Jayalalithaa to four years in jail and imposed a Rs 100 crore fine in the disproportionate assets case. But the high court accepted Ms Jayalalithaa's appeal and acquitted her of all charges this year.
Advertisement
Justice CR Kumaraswamy also acquitted the three co-convicts, sentenced to four years in jail and fined Rs 10 crore each for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income during her first term as chief minister from 1991-96.
Advertisement
Ms Jayalalithaa, who was elected from Srirangam in May 2011, had lost her seat and the chief minister's post after the trial court's verdict.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Supreme Court Keeps Block On Rules Protecting Transgender Students "Unless It Defeats Ends Of Justice...": Supreme Court On Denying Bail To Juvenile J&K Poll Dates Going Past Top Court Deadline? Election Body Chief Responds Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Omar Abdullah On What Should Be J&K Assembly's 1st Move After Polls Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Telangana Man Dies In US, Family Asks Government To Help Bring Back Body JAM 2025: All You Need To Know About Joint Admission Test For Masters Rajasthan Bans Sharp-Edged Objects In School After 15-Year-Old Stabbed Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.