The Madras High Court on Wednesday allowed applications by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter S. Selvi and her son-in-law V.M. Jothimani, to include them as respondents to a petition filed by an individual for speedy trial of a cheating case booked against them in 2012.
Justice M.S. Ramesh allowed the impleading applications and permitted senior counsel R. Shunmugasundaram to file his counter affidavit.
‘Close trial expeditiously’
The petitioner accused Ms. Selvi and Mr. Jothimani of attempting to drag the trial in the case and sought for a direction to a judicial magistrate court at Poonamallee to complete the trial expeditiously.
Denying the allegation, the impleading applicants stated that the complainant, V. Nedumaran of Valasarawakkam, had approached the High Court surreptitiously, without including them as parties to the petition, though the direction sought by him would directly affect their right to have a fair trial.
The complainant had claimed to have paid over ₹5 crore to Mr. Jothimani for purchasing a land owned by the latter’s mother-in-law. However, neither the land was sold to him nor the money was returned.
He accused the impleading petitioners of having threatened him with dire consequences if he insisted on repayment.
