State buying time on Jaya case appeal

Poll alliance could be on Cong's mind

The State government seems to be in a Catch-22 situation on filing an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting Tamil Nadu former chief minister Jayalalitha in a disproportionate assets case.

Ten days ago, the high court set aside a trial court verdict that sentenced the AIADMK chief and three others to four years’ imprisonment for amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The Congress government, however, is yet to spell out its stand. Political dimensions could come into play as the Congress’ central leadership sees the AIADMK as a potential electoral ally in future polls.

The issue was slated to be discussed in Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. The meeting was postponed to Monday though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other senior Cabinet ministers were in the City. The State Cabinet meeting is usually held on Thursday.

The law department and the advocate general (AG) have submitted their opinions to the government but Law Minister T B Jayachandra is yet to go through the reports. “My office has received reports from the law department and the AG, but I was not in a position to look at them as I was busy with gram panchayat elections”, said Jayachandra, who is in New Delhi on an official visit.

Last week, Special Public Prosecutor B V Acharya had advised the government to file an appeal in the Supreme Court stating that it was a “fit case”.

Asked whether the government had got back to him, Acharya said: “I have submitted an exhaustive report to the government stating the various grounds on which we can file the appeal. I have done my duty. I will not comment further.”

Last week, KPCC’s Legal and Human Rights Cell chairman C M  Dhananjay said the State government was not a party to the legal proceedings and had no role to play.

Meanwhile, Jayalalitha is all set to be sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time on Saturday.

A petition was filed by advocate G S Mani in the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking to restrain J Jayalalitha from taking oath.