Subramanian Swamy can assist SPP in Jaya case: HC

The special bench of High Court of Karnataka on Thursday allowed BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to assist the special public prosecutor (SPP) in the hearing of criminal appeals filed by AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha and her aides challenging their conviction in disproportionate assets case.  

Justice C R Kumaraswamy, however, rejected the independent impleading application filed by Swamy. The bench also dismissed the application filed by K Anbazhagan, the general secretary of DMK to assist the SPP in the matter.

The bench, in its order, stated that the permission was granted to Swamy under the Section 5(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The bench further stated that, as the SPP did not have any objections in seeking Swamy’s assistance, the applicant’s prayer for written submissions and to assist the SPP was granted.

  The presiding officer dismissed Swamy’s plea to implead independently as the applicant was the prosecution witness number 232 in the previous trial in the said case. Swamy had appeared before the court on Wednesday seeking permission to assist the court  stating that he was the original complainant in the case and that he has appeared before the Supreme Court when the SPP had remained absent.

In a related matter pertaining to an appeal challenging the appointment of Bhavani Singh as the SPP to the case, the counsel representing the petitioner Anbazhagan filed a memo deleting Respondent number 3 - Superintendent of Police, Special Investigation Cell, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC), Chennai.