The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dismissed a criminal petition by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa seeking quashing of proceedings initiated against her by a Special Court in Chennai.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said a Special Court in Chennai was hearing two cases — the disproportionate assets case and London assets case — in which she was an accused. They were transferred by the Supreme Court from Chennai to Bangalore. Since then, a Special Court in Bangalore was hearing them. Strongly pleading for quashing of proceedings against her, she said the Special Court in Bangalore last year had rejected the opinion given by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) B.V. Acharya for dropping the prosecution against her in the London Hotels case.
The State of Tamil Nadu and the SPP had filed an appeal against this order in the Karnataka High Court, which was allowed.
She alleged that the Special Court in Tamil Nadu took cognisance of the alleged offences and issued summons to her and others on June 5, 1997. She termed the entire proceedings illegal and violative of law.
She also urged the High Court to summon all the records relating to the case.
Mr. Acharya justified the summons and opposed the petition.
He said all procedures contemplated under the Cr.P.C. were followed.
There was no question of quashing the case several years after cognisance was taken. Justice Keshavanarayana dismissed the petition by Ms. Jayalalithaa, thereby upholding the proceedings against her.
