Jayalalithaa case: Special Public Prosecutor, DMK counsel clash in court

Bengaluru: The Special Public Prosecutor and DMK's counsel on Friday had a heated exchange of words during the hearing of appeal filed by AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa before the Karnataka High Court special bench challenging her conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

The exchange broke out when Saravanan, counsel for DMK leader K Anbazhagan, questioned the credentials of Bhavani Singh to appear as SPP to make submissions in the case.

At one stage, when Justice C R Kumaraswamy asked why he was taking on the SPP, Saravanan mentioned that Singh was 'fined' by the trial court for "unecessarily" pleading adjournments on grounds of ill health. But he apologised later after Singh pointed out that only cost was imposed and not fine.

The bench, set up on the Supreme Court's orders, is hearing appeals by Jayalalithaa, as also of three others, challenging their September 27 last conviction by a special court for alleged accumulation of assets disproportionate to her known sources of income during 1991-96, her first stint as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, making his arguments, L Nageswar Rao, counsel for Jayalalithaa, submitted a chart, which contained her income and expenditure details, complying with the court's directive on Thursday.

After going through it, the Judge asked Singh to explain the difference of amount mentioned in the reports filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) and Jayalalithaa.

"As per the charts handed over to me by A1 (Jayalalithaa), it mentions an excess of Rs 95 lakhs, whereas the DVAC report mentions an excess of Rs 66 crore. How did you (SPP) arrive at this (Rs 66.55 crores) amount?" Justice Kumaraswamy queried.

In reply, Singh said DVAC arrived at Rs 66.55 crores during investigations. Intervening, Justice Kumaraswamy asked whether DVAC was present in the court.