In a setback to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday rejected her petition for either keeping in abeyance or postponing the final arguments in the disproportionate assets case being heard by the Special Court in Bangalore.
Vacation judge Justice Anand Byrareddy said the petition was “not maintainable” as the trial was at an “advanced stage”, with the prosecution having completed the final arguments and the case set for final arguments on behalf of the defence.
Ms. Jayalalithaa and co-accused V.K. Sasikala, in their joint petition, had claimed that keeping in abeyance or postponing the final arguments was essential till the Special Court decided on the applications filed by some companies (of which Ms. Jayalalithaa and others were directors) claiming ownership of some of the attached properties, which the prosecution had claimed belonged to Ms. Jayalalithaa and other accused.
The petition said the Special Court had not adhered to the directions issued by the Madras High Court on April 2 for hearing the claims of the companies by making them formal parties in the disproportionate assets case.
However, Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh said the prosecution’s final arguments had been completed and any interference at this stage would have an adverse effect on the trial.
