AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran on Friday appeared before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate(ACMM), Economic Offences-II, in a 20-year-old case registered under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) in which the Enforcement Directorate had imposed a penalty of ₹28 crore on him. The ACMM, S. Malarmathy, refused to grant exemption to Mr. Dinakaran from appearing before her during the next hearing slated for March 22.
In 1996, the Special Director, Enforcement Directorate, New Delhi, initiated adjudication proceedings against Mr. Dinakaran for acquiring foreign exchange totalling USD 1,04,93,313 from persons other than authorised dealers in foreign exchange, violating the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.
In January, the Madras High Court confirmed the order of the FERA Board imposing a penalty of ₹28 crore and reversed the order of the ACMM court discharging him from the case.
Filing a memo, his counsel M.A. Jenasenan urged the court to adjourn the case, stating that he has appealed against the High Court order in the Supreme Court, to which Ms. Malarmathy noted that no petition has been filed on the appeals.
The counsel contended that Mr. Dinakaran was contesting the election in RK. Nagar Assembly constituency (so it may not be possible to attend the court). Ms. Malarmathy responded saying, “I don’t watch television. I am not influenced by what is going on there... (I) don’t (get) carried away by the faction (divisions in AIADMK).”
Heeding to the request of the counsel, the ACMM adjourned the case to March 22 and directed Mr. Dinakaran to appear before her without fail.
