Jaya IT returns case adjourned to Nov 6

A court here today adjourned the income tax cases against AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa and her aide Sasikala to November 6.

The income tax department had launched criminal proceedings against Jayalalithaa and Sasikala for allegedly not filing returns in their individual capacity for the assessment year 1993-94.

Complaints were also filed by the IT department against Sasi Enterprises represented by its partners, Jayalalithaa and Sasikala for allegedly failing to file returns for assessment years 1991-92 and 1992-93.

An economic offences court here is hearing the case. The matter came up for hearing today before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R Dakshinamurthy.

Contending that the compouding petitions were pending with the tax authorities, counsel for Jayalalithaa and Sasikala filed petitions seeking adjournment of the case for four weeks.

The Special Public Prosecutor, however, opposed the petitions. He wanted the trial to go on so that it could be completed on time in compliance with an order of the Supreme Court.

After hearing both sides, the magistrate posted the matter to November 6.
On September 18, the ACMM court asked Jayalalithaa and Sasikala to appear before it "without fail" on October 1 in the case.

On September 24, the Madras High Court allowed dispensation of Jayalalithaa and Sasikala's appearance in the case at the ACMM court (economic offences).

The Madras High Court Judge K B K Vasuki also directed the income tax authorities to dispose the compounding applications filed by Jayalalithaa and Sasikala within six weeks and held that the trial in the case could however continue.

On September 27, Jayalalithaa was convicted in a disproportionate wealth case and kept in a prison in Bangalore.

On October 1, when the case had come up before the ACMM court, it was adjourned to October 16.