Court allows plea to produce Jayalalithaa's seized valuables

A special court trying the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa here today allowed a plea by DMK General Sectetary K Anbazhagan seeking physical production of valuables and other assets seized from her in 1997.

Special Court Judge John Michael D'Cunha ordered the transit of the seized material from Chennai to Bangalore by December 21, observing that it was required for giving fair justice. The seized material is deposited in an RBI treasury in Chennai.

In his application, Anbazhagan had pleaded that the court should take custody of 800 kg silver, 28 kg gold, 750 pairs of shoes, 10,500 sarees, 91 watches and other items that were seized during a raid in 1997 as evidence.

Jayalalithaa's advocates, however, labelled the plea as political vendetta and argued the physical production was not mandated under the law.

They also contended that transiting the material would raise logistic and security concerns. Also, the DMK leader was a third party in the case and does not have any locus standi to seek production of materials.

They said the material had been filmed and it had also been declared in wealth tax and income tax filings by Jayalalithaa. The court adjourned the case to December 21.

The AIADMK chief is accused of amassing Rs 66.65 crore between 1991 and 1996 when she was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.