The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave a split verdict on the plea seeking removal of special public prosecutor G Bhawani Singh in former Tamil Nadu CM, J Jayalalithaa’s DA case before Karnataka High Court.
Justice MB Lokur allowed the plea for removal of the special public prosecutor (SPP) Bhavani Singh but Justice R Banumathi has said the prosecutor has the authority to continue an appeal in the High Court.
A petition filed by DMK leader K Anbazhagan had asked for removal of the SPP Bhavani Singh in the appeals filed by Jayalalithaa and her co-accused in a Rs. 66.65-crore disproportionate assets case.
The Supreme Court has now referred the matter to a larger bench.
Had Supreme Court agreed with the DMK leader’s plea, the three-month-long appeal hearings before the Karnataka High Court against the conviction and sentence of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and her co-accused would have been vitiated.
Disproportionate Assets Case: As it Happened
June 14, 1996: Subramanian Swamy filed a petition in a Chennai court against Jayalalitha. Later, the Principal District and Sessions Judge directed Letika Saran, IPS, to investigate the private complaint.
Meanwhile, the then (DMK) government directed DVAC to register an FIR against Jayalalithaa for allegedly possessing unaccounted assets.
June 4, 1997: Charge sheet filed in Chennai; Rs. 66.65 crore disproportionate assets in possession of Jayalalithaa.
The Madras HC dismisseed Jayalalithaa’s plea against Governor’s sanction to prosecute her on October 1. A fresh court frames charges against Jayalalithaa, V K Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran, and J Ilavarasi on October 21.
November 18, 2003: Supreme Court transferred the case to Bangalore while observing that ‘fair trial’ was not going on in Chennai.
January 22, 2010: Supreme Court cleared way for trial of DA case and trial commences. Witnesses were re-examined by prosecution.
October-November, 2011: Jayalalithaa appeared in person in court, answers Special Court’s questions.
August 28, 2014: Trial concluded, Jayalalithaa sentenced to four years in jail, fined Rs 100 crore on September 27. On October 7, Karnataka High Court rejects Jayalalithaa bail plea but later on Octpber 17, Jayalalithaa gets bail with caveats.
The Supreme Court extends bail to Jayalalithaa by four months, directs Karnataka HC to form special bench on December 18.
January 1, 2015: Karnataka High Court constituted a Special Bench of Justice C R Kumaraswamy to hear the appeals filed by Jayalalithaa and others. Hearing began on January 5 on Jayalalithaa’s appeal.
Prosecution concludes hearing arguments on Jayalalithaa’s appeal but on March 9, the apex court refused to stay appeal hearing in Karnataka HC and on March 12, Karnataka High Court reserves its verdict on the appeals filed by Jayalalithaa.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)