Jaya DA case; HC questions SPP

The Karnataka High Court today questioned Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh on how the investigating authorities had arrived at framing former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for having amassed Rs 66.65 crore of wealth disproportionate to known sources of income during the check period.
"I want to know how did the investigating authorities arrive at a conclusion that A-1 (Jayalalithaa) had accumulated Rs 66.65 crore of wealth disproportionate to known sources of income," Justice C R Kumaraswamy said when Singh was making his submissions during the hearing of Jayalalithaa's appeal against her conviction by a special court.
The Judge is chairing the special bench formed after the Supreme Court had on December 18 last directed the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court to constitute it to decide within three months Jayalalithaa's appeal against her conviction.

Justice Kumaraswamy asked Singh to corroborate the facts presented before the court with proper evidence.
The judge also asked Singh why the provisions under Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 was not invoked in the charge sheet against the accused when it was included in the FIR filed by Tamil Nadu police.
"Why did the investigating authorities not invoke provisions under the Benami Act in the charge sheet against the accused when it was included in the FIR?" he added.

A Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, had granted bail to Jayalalithaa on the condition that hearing in the High Court on her appeal against conviction should be completed in three months from December 18.

The special court had held Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of corruption. The court had awarded four years jail term and also slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore on the AIADMK chief. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 crore each on the three other convicts.
Apart from Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives Sudhakaran, erstwhile foster son of the AIADMK leader, and Elavarasi were also convicted.