VK We were measuring. File | Photo Credit: A. Shaikmohideen
The Madras High Court on Thursday (December 12, 2024) ordered the Additional Chief City Magistrate, Economic Offenses-I at Egmore in Chennai to expedite the trial in three Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) cases booked by the Directorate of Enforcement against the former Chief. Minister Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala in her position as chairman and director of JJ TV Private Limited.
A Division Bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman insisted on ending the trial and giving a verdict as soon as possible as the cases have been pending since 1996. 2019 to certain questions that were asked to him during the proceedings before the Magistrate on 20 December 2018.
The applicant argued that he would not be expected to answer these questions on behalf of the television company when its director V. Bhaskaran, who is also one of the accused in this case, has been questioned on the same issue. However, ED Special Public Prosecutor Rajnish Pathiyil argued that there is absolutely no merit in the petitioner’s plea.
He also complained to the court that the trial has been dragging on for years for one reason or another. After hearing both sides, the judges dismissed the petitions which have been pending at the Supreme Court since 2019 and asked the additional CMM to complete the trial as soon as possible after reminding the magistrate that unnecessary adjournment should not be granted in criminal trials.
Published – December 12, 2024 03:11 pm IST
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