The Karnataka High Court on Monday restrained the Special Court, which is trying the disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, from recording the statement of Sasikala Natarajan, one of the accused in the case. Justice B.V. Pinto passed the interim order staying the proceedings in the Special Court for six weeks while hearing a petition filed by Ms. Sasikala.
In her petition, Ms. Sasikala challenged the December 14 order of the Special Court, which rejected her plea for translating the questions to be asked by the judge in English into Tamil . After rejecting her plea, the Special Court had decided to record her statement on December 21.
Appearing for Ms. Sasikala, senior counsel K.T.S. Tulsi contended that the petitioner did not understand either English or Kannada and, hence, the Special Court had arranged for an interpreter. He, however, said that the petitioner wanted the Special Court to translate the questions to Tamil in writing and also to record her replies in Tamil and later translate them into English.
After staying the proceedings for six weeks, the court adjourned further hearing till January 12.
