Deportation of Sasikala aide sought

The Indian government has also revoked Suseela’s passport after failing to bring her for interrogation despite repeated summons. Suseela was issued summons by the Economic Offences Court, Egmore, in Chennai from time to time to appear for interrogation in the FERA violations case, but she ignored them.

The Indian government has sounded a red alert for Suseela, who is reported to have now obtained an Australian passport. The Indian High Commission in Malaysia has asked the Malaysian government to provide a status report on Suseela, since she is no longer an Indian citizen.

The Interpol has issued notices to Suseela, but she failed to reply to them. Interpol is also searching for Suseela following a request from the Indian government.

The NR-NR deposits in the name of Suseela were transferred to Bharani Beach Resorts of which Sasikala Natarajan, now out on bail, is one of the directors. Sasikala is reported to have taken a loan of Rs 2.2 crore from Bharani Beach Resorts, with which, she part-financed the Kodanadu Tea Estate.

Suseela had recently filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the RBI to de-freeze her FCNR deposits worth 6,25,000 dollars. But the ED has objected saying the investigations into the transfer of accounts violating the provisions of FERA were incomplete without interrogating her.

In yet another development in Jayalalitha-regime related corruption case, former local administration minister T M Selvaganapathy today surrendered before V Radhakrishnan, the Special Judge II, here, soon after the judge issued a bailable warrant for his non-appearance to face the trial in the Pleasant Stay hotel case.

Selvaganapathy, on hearing the issuance of the warrant, appeared on his own before the judge, who then recalled the warrant.

Former municipal administration secretary H M Pandey, a co-accused in the case, who arrived late for the proceedings, also had his bailable warrant recalled by the judge. Earlier, the judge dispensed with the personal appearances of former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha, the first accused in the case, and the executive director of Pleasant Stay Hotel in Kodaikanal, Rakesh Mittal.

Jayalalitha and Mittal had filed petitions under Section 317 of CrPC for exemption from personal appearance for the day.

However, the judge dismissed a similar petition filed by Selvaganapathy, who had cited as reason for his absence the pendency of his writ petition before the Madras High Court challenging the appointment of the three special judges to try corruption cases pertaining to the AIADMK regime.

Later, the judge adjourned the proceedings to June 25.