Jayalalithaa fails to appear in court for hearing on I-T returns case

Court directs Jayalalithaa and her friend Sasikala to appear on June 30

AIADMK supermo and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa today once again skipped the court appearance in an income tax related case.

The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Economic Offence), which is hearing the case, ordered Jayalalithaa and her friend Sasikala to appear before it at the next date of appearing on June 30 and in first week of July without fail.

In its oral observation, the court said Jayalalithaa “must” adjust her programme so that she can attend court proceedings.

Jayalalithaa, who was supposed to appear before the court today, told the court through her lawyer that she had some official duties to discharge and asked the court to give time by June-end. Her friend Sasikala, in a separate petition gave health reasons to excuse her from the appearance from the Court.

It may be noted, the AIADMK chief earlier filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in the case. However the Court dismissed the petition and said on April 10th Jayalaithaa must appear before the Court. The court had directed Jayalalithaa and Sasikala to appear before it for questioning and framing of charges.

When the matter came up for hearing, Advocates representing Jayalalithaa and Sasikala, requested time to appear before the Court, and objecting to it The Income Tax Department lawyer argued that they cant keep giving reasons. He also alleged that this is against the Supreme Court's order.

In January, the Supreme Court ordered a trial court to prosecute her for not filing the Income Tax . The Apex Court also ordered the completion of the trial in the case in four months.

The Income Tax Department earlier instituted criminal proceedings by filing complaints in 1996 and 1997 against Jayalalithaa and her friend Sasikala Natarajan, for not filing returns in their individual capacity for the assessment year 1993-94. Again in 1997 the Department filed two complaints against Sasi Enterprises and its partners, both, Jayalalaithaa and Sasikala, allegedly failing to file returns for the assessment years 1991-92, 1992-93.

The case was registered against Jayalalithaa and her close friend Sasikala is also co-accused in the case. Both were allegedly partners in a company, Sasi Enterprise, which according to IT department did not file the returns. A criminal case was filed by the Department against Jayalalithaa and Sasikala.

Jayalalithaa's Counsel earlier argued that since she had no income in those three years, she did not file I-T returns.