The trial in a criminal case against V.N. Sudhakaran, once a foster son of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, is set to commence afresh on Friday.
Judges who heard the cases earlier deferred the proceedings following letters casting aspersions on them. Mr. Sudhakaran is facing a charge of illegal possession of heroin in 2001.
V. Ramamurthy, then Principal Judge of Special Court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, reserved orders and deferred the pronouncement of judgement on April 19 following a telegram making some observations about him. On April 30, Mr. Ramamurthy was transferred and in his place C. Chinnappan, a Principal District Judge, was posted. Mr. Chinnappan also adjourned the case last month following yet another letter to him and was awaiting direction from the Madras High Court. On receipt of a communication from the Madras High Court, the proceedings are set to begin afresh.