)
AIADMK Supermo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today skipped a court appearance today. She is facing a trial in an income tax related case. The AIADMK chief has also filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in the case.
The Court is expected to pass orders later today on Jayalaithaa's plea for exemption.
Jayalalithaa's close friend Sasikala Natarajan 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 AIADMK Supermo and Sasikala.
The court had, in its last hearing, in March directed Jayalalithaa and Sasikala to appear before it today for questioning and framing of charges.
In January, the Supreme Court ordered a trial court to prosecute her for not filing the Income Tax returns between 1991 and 1994. The Apex Court also ordered the completion of the trial in the case in four months.
Jayalalithaa's Counsel earlier argued that since she had no income in those three years, she did not file IT returns.
