A special court trying the disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday adjourned to February 18, 2012 recording of the statement of former aide and co-accused V.K. Sasikala.
Judge B.M. Mallikarjunaiah adjourned to February 18, 2012 the recording of her statement under Section 313 of CrPC, allowing a petition by her counsel C. Manishankar under Sec 309 of the CrPC, seeking adjournment.
Mr. Manishankar submitted they had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the February 3, 2012 High Court dismissal of her petition on the translation process, which was listed for hearing on Thursday.
Allowing the petition, the court adjourned the matter and directed that the interpreter Harish be present on that day.
Ms. Sasikala and Ilavarasi, the fourth accused, were present in court.
On February 3, 2012 Justice N. Ananda had upheld the trial court order on the petition and observed that there need not be any “interference” with the lower court order and dismissed it.
On December 16, 2011 Ms. Sasikala’s counsel Thulasi had filed the criminal petition seeking translated versions of questions framed by the court to be kept ready in Tamil.
When the petition subsequently came up for hearing in the High Court on December 19, 2011 Justice of B.V. Pinto granted six weeks stay on proceedings against Ms. Sasikala in the special court.
The case relates to accumulation of wealth allegedly disproportionate to her known sources of income by Ms. Jayalalithaa when she was Chief Minister between 1991 and 96.