CHENNAI: Further progress in the disproportionate wealth case against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa can be expected only after the Bangalore special court disposes of the defence petition in the London hotels case.

At the third hearing on Monday, after the proceedings began on March 14, the court was to have heard defence arguments to decide whether or not the hotels case should be clubbed with the main case. But Ms. Jayalalithaa's counsel, N.Jothi, was not well and could not attend court.

Another plea pending

Another defence petition which says the registration of the first information report in the hotels case is itself "invalid" is also pending. According to counsel there is no such case at all. He already submitted that his petition could be heard prior to the submissions on the main petition on whether the two cases should be clubbed or not.

`Legal mockery'

In a petition, filed on her behalf by counsel before the Chennai special court, Ms. Jayalalithaa sought the clubbing of the cases. Letters Rogatory were obtained by the prosecuting agency, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, after giving a written undertaking that additional evidence if any available would be used only in the Rs.66.65- crore disproportionate wealth case. It would be a "legal mockery" if a separate case was filed using the further evidence. There could only be a further report. If the court accepted it, it would result in the framing of an additional charge or examination of additional witnesses.

The filing of a separate case (London hotels case) was an exhibition of the "diabolic bent of their (political opponents) mind".

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