Charges to be framed against Jaya, Sasikala

Frayed tempers were witnessed from the defence counsel’s side before the judge finally fixed the date. Sasikala’s counsel initially sought six weeks time for the accused to peruse the translated documents and take the next course of action. The judge, however, fixed February 24 for framing charges against the accused. Later, the date was changed to February 25 as the prosecution pointed out that February 24 happens to be Jayalalitha’s birthday. The defence counsel said it was not open to the court to fix the date for framing of charges within minutes offurnishing copies of the charge-sheet to the accused. It would only imply that the court has come to a conclusion that the accused had committed an offence. "She (Sasikala) will have to go through the papers and file a discharge petition on the grounds that the Prevention of Corruption Act is not applicable to her," he said.

The judge intervened to say that the accused was free to file any petition and the charges will be framed only after hearing them. The court will consider the petitions, he said. When the defence counsel persisted with his argument, a visibly angry judge cut him short saying there can be no further arguments on the issue today and directed all the accused to be present on February 25. At this the counsel said that "the court has pre-determined the issue."

The other accused in the case are former Rural Industries Minister Mohammad Asif, the then TANSI chairman T R Srinivasan, the then Jayalalitha’s Additional Secretary Karpoorasundarapandian and the then Deputy Registrar (Stamps)Nagarajan.