<div>In a setback to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court Thursday said she will face trial for not filing Income Tax return for three years in her capacity as a partner of Shashi Enterprises which she jointly owned with her aide Sasikala.<div><br /></div><p>The apex court bench headed by Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan directed the trial court to complete the trial within a period of four months.<br /><br />Jayalalithaa along with Sasikala had set up Sashi Enterprises wherein neither the enterprise nor its both partners filed their Income Tax return for year 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94.<br /><br />Jayalalithaa had contended that since there was no income from the enterprise, therefore there was no tax evasion and not filing the Income Tax return was not an offence. <br /><br />However, economic offences court in Chennai rejected their contention, holding that non-filing of ITR was an offence and they will face trial.<br /><br />On appeal, the high court accepted the findings of the economic offences court and both Jayalalithaa and Sasikala will face trial.<br /><br />Supreme Court Thursday declined to interfere with the High Court order.</p></div>
<div>In a setback to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court Thursday said she will face trial for not filing Income Tax return for three years in her capacity as a partner of Shashi Enterprises which she jointly owned with her aide Sasikala.<div><br /></div><p>The apex court bench headed by Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan directed the trial court to complete the trial within a period of four months.<br /><br />Jayalalithaa along with Sasikala had set up Sashi Enterprises wherein neither the enterprise nor its both partners filed their Income Tax return for year 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94.<br /><br />Jayalalithaa had contended that since there was no income from the enterprise, therefore there was no tax evasion and not filing the Income Tax return was not an offence. <br /><br />However, economic offences court in Chennai rejected their contention, holding that non-filing of ITR was an offence and they will face trial.<br /><br />On appeal, the high court accepted the findings of the economic offences court and both Jayalalithaa and Sasikala will face trial.<br /><br />Supreme Court Thursday declined to interfere with the High Court order.</p></div>