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Charges against Jaya in TANSI case to be framed tomorrow

Charges will be framed tomorrow against former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, her close aide Sasikala Natarajan and four other accused in the Tamil Nadu Small Industries land deal case.

Dismissing a petition filed by former rural industries minister Mohammad Asif, a co-accused, seeking to include the then secretary for industry Lathika D Patalkar and others in the TANSI board of directors as accused in the case, Special Judge (III) P Anbazhagan fixed tomorrow for framing of charges and directed the accused to be present in court.

The prosecution case is that prime TANSI land at Guindy in Madras was purchased at a price lower than the prevailing market price, by Jaya Publications, Sasi Enterprises -- in which Jayalalitha and Sasikala were partners -- and RR Industries.

Charges could not be framed in respect of Sasi Enterprises as the petition filed by Jayalalitha seeking to discharge her from the case was pending before the court. The trial with respect to R R Industries has already commenced.

It may be recalled that the Madras high court had on April 29 cleared the way for framing of charges while dismissing a petition from Asif, seeking to transfer the case from Special Judge (III) P Anbazhagan to any other special judge on the ground that the judge was acting against the interests of the accused and was on the side of the prosecution.

The court had also directed the special judge to proceed with the framing of charges. Later the Supreme Court also upheld the high court's order.

Dismissing the petition as not maintainable, judge Anbazhagan said a perusal of the statement of Lathika D Patalkar showed she had cautioned Asif, had told him about the government order regarding sale of TANSI property and the need for approval of the chief minister as the value of the property went beyond Rs 100 million.

The judge said there was no strong and clinching evidence available on record to proceed against Patalkar.

The judge also dismissed as not maintainable another petition from Asif, seeking to implicate the board members and other officials in this case.

UNI

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