Jayalalithaa wealth case may prolong further

By K.T.Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, NOV. 6. Even as trial in the `disproportionate wealth case' against the former Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, is nearing three years, chief examination of the investigating officer is not likely to take place before year-end, according to present indications.

Official sources say the prosecution has already hinted at the possibility of bringing more witnesses and that the process of selecting them is on. The witnesses will be only from among those who have been cited in the chargesheet but were not examined by the prosecution earlier. At the same time, efforts will be made to see that the number of extra witnesses is reduced by summoning only those whose evidence is considered absolutely essential. ``It is the discretion of the prosecution to summon its witnesses in a case''. However, corroborative evidence will be kept to the minimum, the sources say adding the case is likely to spill over into the next year also.

Out of nearly 80 prosecution witnesses allowed by the court for being recalled by the defence for cross-examination, 13 are yet to tender evidence. The evidence of quite a few of them, such as bank, customs and income-tax officials would consume more time than that taken by others. Moreover, a defence petition for recall of some witnesses other than those permitted by the court is already pending before the special court.

Trial began on December 28, 1998 and 258 witnesses were examined. When the DMK rule was coming to an end, the prosecution planned to put the investigating officer in the witness box and close its part of the evidence. But this proposal did not materialise.

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Section  : Southern States
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