Journalism of Courage
The Karnataka High Court Thursday appointed a new judge to the special court trying the Rs 66.65-crore disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa.
The appointment of John Michael Cunha is subject to the issuance of a formal notification by the state government under Section 3 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The appointment came after the SC asked Karnataka Wednesday why it did not grant extension to retiring judge M S Balakrishna despite a suggestion to the effect in its September 30 order.
The trial in the case of 1991-96 has been mired in controversy.
The trial was at an advanced stage under Balakrishna when his conduct was called into question by DMK leader K Anbazhagan,who filed applications in the special court,high court and before the Karnataka government suggesting that the judge was not fair and alleging that special public prosecutor Bhawani Singh was biased.
