Hearing of appeal by Jaya in HC concludes

The day-to-day hearing of the appeal by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, who has challenged her conviction by a special court in the disproportionate assets case, oncluded in the Karanataka High Court on Wednesday.

The special bench judge Justice C R Kumaraswamy reserved his orders after the argument of the parties concluded. The Supreme Court, while hearing Jayalalitha’s bail application, had directed the Karnataka High Court on December 19, 2014, to complete the hearing within three months.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the complainant in the case against Jayalalitha, appeared before the High Court on Wednesday and made a written submission. In his submission, he has questioned Jayalalitha’s source of income. He said all her wealth was accumulated after she became chief minister. Mentioning that her income in the early 1980s was ‘nil’, with an exception of a 10-acre vineyard near Hyderabad, Swamy said, “How can she amass such huge wealth while she earned just one rupee as salary as chief minister?” He sought to set aside the appeal and confirm the special court sentence.

The counsel for Jayalalitha refuted the allegations made by Swamy and pointed out that the notice issued by the I-T department had been disposed of and the court should not take note of it. He sought to allow the appeal. Justice Kumaraswamy, who heard the matter, reserved his orders.