SC split verdict in Jaya case; SPP declines comments

Bhavani Singh, Special Public Prosecutor, today declined to comment on the Supreme Court's split verdict on a DMK leader's plea seeking his removal from representing the state in the Karnataka High Court in the appeals filed by AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and three others in the disproportionate assets case.
"I have nothing to comment on the Supreme Court's split verdict on my removal from representing the state in Karnataka High Court as SPP in Jayalalithaa case but I am confident that the larger bench of the apex court will give its verdict in my favour," Singh told PTI here.
The apex court had in December last refused to entertain a petition challenging his continuation as SPP, Singh noted.

A Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India H L Dattu, had observed that just as the Supreme Court, the High Court enjoys powers to take decisions.
The Supreme Court today delivered a split verdict on DMK General Secretary K Albazhagan's plea seeking Singh's removal. As a consequence, the matter was referred to CJI to set up a larger bench.
The DMK leader had alleged that the SPP was "hand in glove with an accused (Jayalalithaa)".
The apex court order had then made it clear that transferee state Karnataka, and not transferor state Tamil Nadu, will appoint the public prosecutor in the case, the plea had contended.

On October 17, the apex court had granted conditional bail to Jayalalithaa, who was sent to jail by a trial court on September 27, along with three others, including her close associate Sasikala Natarajan.