A Special Court here on Saturday partly allowed an application by the defence seeking time to carry out corrections in the translated documents (evidence) of some of the 259 witnesses in the trial of the disproportionate assets case against AIADMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The defence had sought six months' time to point out “defects” in the translated evidence of some of the witnesses in the case. The court rejected six months' time, but granted the defence time till February 8, 2011 to carry out the corrections.
Naveennatha Krishnan, counsel for Ms. Jayalalithaa, filed the application on January 27, 2011 seeking six months' time. Rejecting the application, Special Judge B.M. Mallikarjunaiah, however, stated that wherever corrections were necessary, they could be carried out by February 8. He said the “corrections could be taken into consideration at an appropriate stage.”
The Special Judge asked the interpreter K.S. Harish to “have a look” at the “defects” pointed out by the defence in the translated evidence of 44 witnesses (out of the 259) and compare it with the original version (in Tamil), and if any mistakes were found, furnish the “mistakes, omissions” before the court in a week's time.
Former Advocate-General and Special Public Prosecutor B.V. Acharya requested the court to post the case for questioning under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code .
An accused will be summoned before the court to appear for questioning under this section.
The Special Judge replied that it was “not necessary at present” and posted the case to February 8 for further proceedings.
