Jayalalitha's counsel rapped by court for "wasting" its time

A Karnataka High Court Special Bench today rapped former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's counsel for "wasting" its time by making "impertinent" submissions before it in the appeals filed by her and three others, challenging their conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

"Do not waste the time of the court by making impertinent submissions in the case. Give specific replies to my specific questions," Justice Kumaraswamy said.

The Special Bench has been set up after the Supreme Court had on December 18 last directed the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court to constitute it to decide Jayalalithaa's plea within three months.

Justice Kumaraswamy also said he was not an auditor and an expert in financial matters and hence, requested B Kumar, Jayalalithaa's counsel, to make pertinent submissions. "I am neither a financial expert nor an auditor. Please respond to my pertinent queries," he said.

The judge also asked Jayalalithaa's counsel to substantiate the savings of Rs 95 lakh mentioned in the tabulated paper submitted before the court.

"You have submitted the tabulated paper relating to the Rs 95 lakh savings but does not substantiate the claim," he said.

As soon as the Special Bench began third week of the hearing, Kumar submitted that the six companies in contention were in no way owned by Jayalalithaa but she is a mere shareholder as others. "Jayalalithaa has nothing to do with these six companies in contention. She is, like others, a mere shareholder, not an owner," he contended.

An apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, had ordered that the hearing in the High Court on the appeal, filed by Jayalalithaa challenging her conviction and sentence in the case, be conducted on a day-to-day basis.

On October 17 last year, the apex court had granted conditional bail to Jayalalithaa, who was sent to jail by a trial court on September 27, saying that hearing on her appeal against conviction in the High Court should be completed in three months from December 18.

The special court had held Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of corruption. The court had awarded four years jail term and also slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore on the AIADMK chief. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 crore each on the three other convicts.