In a major setback to former Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, and her friend Sasikala, a Chennai court today refused to discharge them in cases relating to ‘‘wilful failure’’ to file Income Tax returns in three separate instances. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Economic Offences-I) J.V. Raj dismissed the discharge petitions from Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and Sasi Enterprises in which both were partners, and posted the case for further proceedings on July 5.The IT Department had registered cases individually against both Jayalalithaa and Sasikala for ‘willful non-filing of returns’ for the assessment year 1993-94 when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister. They are also being prosecuted in their capacity as partners in Sasi Enterprises, for which returns were not filed in the years 1991-92 and 1992-93. The department said for the assessment year 1993-94, Jayalalithaa’s income was Rs 1 crore and the tax due with interest now amounted to Rs 98 lakh. Jayalalithaa had unsuccessfully challenged the IT case in the Madras High Court and subsequently in the Supreme Court. The stage is now set for framing of charges against the two. But Jayalalithaa’s counsel N. Jothi pleaded with the court for at least four weeks’ time before charges were framed against them. He said he needed time to file revision petitions in the High Court against the Magistrate’s orders. The Magistrate recorded his submission and fixed the case for July 5.
