Jaya case; no proposal to replace SPP, Karna Law Minister

Karnataka government today said it has no proposal to replace Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh in the hearing of appeals filed by AIADMK chief Jayaalithaa and three others in the state High Court, challenging their conviction in the disproportionate assets case, as the matter is not under its purview.
DMK had on January 8 contended before the Karnataka High Court that continuation of Bhavani Singh as SPP was illegal as the state government has not issued fresh orders of his appointment in the case.
"The state government has no such proposal to issue fresh orders of appointment or replacing Singh as SPP in the hearing of disproportionate case," Karnataka Law Minister T B Jayachandra told PTI here.

DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan had submitted before Justice Abdul Nazir that the continuation of Singh as SPP is illegal and unlawful as the state government has not issued a fresh order of appointment.
He had also contended before the court that Singh was not appointed by the government as per the Supreme Court guidelines but by Chennai-based Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption, which is under the control of AIADMK government whose party's supreme leader Jayalalithaa is the main accused.
"The state government has nothing to do with Singh's appointment as the issue does not fall under our purview but under the Supreme Court's purview. The issue is left to the Supreme Court," Jayachandra said.

The apex court had on December 16, 2013 refused to entertain a writ petition challenging the continuation of Singh as SPP in the case, observing that like them, the High Court was also endowed with powers to take decisions.

DVAC had appointed Singh as SPP only to argue before the special court, not before the special bench of the High Court, and hence he should be removed and replaced by someone else by Karnataka government through a fresh order, Anbazhagan had contended.
This is not the first time Anbazhagan has raised serious doubts about Singh's credentials in presenting his arguments in the case.

In 2013, Anbazagan had petitioned the High Court praying for quashing of the notification appointing Singh as SPP, contending it was contrary to the Supreme Court's direction. On August 27 same year, the government withdrew Singh's appointment after the High Court issued a notice to it.
Asked about the replacement of Singh as SPP, Karnataka Advocate Genral Ravivarma Kumar said "you should ask the government about it."
The matter will come up for hearing on January 14.