The additional chief metropolitan magistrate court — economic offences-II, Allikulam, on Wednesday issued a ‘prisoner transit warrant’ for the production of V.N. Sudhakaran, the nephew of AIADMK (Amma) general secretary V.K. Sasikala, to face trial in a case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Sasikala and her relatives J. Ilavarasi and V.N. Sudhakaran were sent to the Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru after they were convicted in the Disproportionate Assets case.
The ACMM Court recently took up a case relating to the imports made in the name of Super Duper TV and unauthorised payments made by V.N. Sudhakaran and his brother V. Bhaskaran during 1995-1996. They were summoned for framing of charges. During a previous hearing, the court had asked the ED to take steps to produce Mr. Sudhakaran.
When the matter came up for hearing, Mr. Bhaskaran appeared in-person, with bouncers stationed outside the court hall.
Jail officials’ request
The ACMM, S. Malarmathy, asked the counsel for ED why Mr. Sudhakaran was not produced even after the court had issued a warrant for him.
Counsel for ED stated that the warrant had already been communicated to the prison authorities in Bengaluru, and that the latter had made a plea to conduct framing of charges through video conferencing, citing shortage of personnel to escort the prisoner to Chennai.
Ms. Malarmathy then issued a fresh prisoner transit warrant to produce Mr. Sudhakaran before the court on June 7.
The ACMM also ordered Mr. Bhaskaran to be present for the next hearing.
Taking up another case filed against AIADMK (A) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, the ACMM expressed displeasure over the failure of the ED in producing relevant records relating to the confinement of Mr. Dhinakaran.
