Official probing wealth case puts in papers

By K.T.Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, MAY 15. In another interesting development, the investigating officer in the `Rs.66.65 crores disproportionate wealth case' against Ms. Jayalalitha, pending before the Special Court, has decided to relinquish the post and has put in his papers.

The letter has been forwarded to the Government for orders, official sources told The Hindu.

The investigating officer, Mr. N. Nallamma Naidu, in the rank of a Superintendent of Police in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), was on re-employment for a second tenure of six months after his retirement, as he was handling the wealth case. He was scheduled to be examined as a witness in the case after cross-examination of prosecution witnesses recalled by defence was completed.

Mr. Naidu's ill health is cited as the reason for his decision to quit.

The officer's decision came close on the heels of the submission of resignation letters by two Special Public Prosecutors (SPPs), Mr. A. V. Somasundaram and Mr. K. E. Venkataraman, in the case. Yet another SPP, Mr.Jawaharlal, who was stated to be out of town, is also expected to submit his resignation in a day or two.

During the hearing today before the Special Judge-I, Mr. A. C. Arumugaperumal Adityan, the prosecution submitted that a witness, who was to be cross-examined by defence, was out of station and hence, he could not be present. An inkling of things to come was provided by defence counsel, who told the court that a new team of SPPs is to be appointed by the present Government. The Judge recorded that all the SPPs had resigned due to change of Government. The case was adjourned to May 30.

Mr. G. Krishnamurthy, SPP in TANSI cases registered by the CB- CID, in which Ms. Jayalalitha was convicted and sentenced, is likely to submit his resignation tomorrow. He thanked and took leave of the court of the Special Judge-III, Mr. P. Anbazhagan, today when the case pertaining to the `TANSI-R.R.Industries' was taken up. The case has now been posted for June 14. The SPPs handling the other CB-CID cases have also put in their papers.

Among the cases pending before the Special Courts, the fate of the one relating to `disproportionate wealth' against Ms.Jayalalitha, is being keenly watched. About 1,050 witnesses were initially proposed to be examined. Later, the number was pruned to about 250 and they were examined in-chief. Cross- examination by defence was on.

Besides the wealth case, the ones relating to the `SPIC disinvestment', in which also Ms.Jayalalitha is the main accused and a `fire service scam' are pending before the Special Court-I. Judgements had already been delivered in wealth cases against the former Speaker, Mr. R. Muthiah, ex-Minister, Mr. Nagoor Meeran, MLA, Mrs. Malliga and IAS officers, Mr. K. Inbasagaran and Mr. H. M. Pandey, `JTC scam', `free dhoti/saree scam' and `fire service scam' cases.

In the Special Court-II, trial is on in the `coal import deal case' in which Ms. Jayalalitha is the first accused and the `disproportionate wealth case' against the former Chief Secretary, Mr. N. Haribhaskar, while verdicts had been rendered in cases relating to `colour TV scam', `Pleasant Stay Hotel', `ATC scam', `fire service scam' and wealth cases against the former Ministers, Mr. V. Sathyamurthy and Mr. K. Ponnusamy.

Four cases relating to `free footwear scam', `free dhoti/saree scam', `JJTC scam' and `TANSI-R.R.Industries' are pending before the Special Judge-III. Judgements had been delivered in four other cases including those pertaining to two TANSI land deals.

If the new Government decides to withdraw the cases, it has to issue an order to that effect. But it is pointed out that closure is not an easy process. The cases had been registered under the PCA and the Judges' decision in the cases is final.

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