Coal case a frame-up: Jayalalithaa

By K. T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, OCT. 11. The former Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, cited as the first accused in the `coal import scam' case, today appeared before a special court here and answered questions under Section 313 Cr.P.C.

Accompanied by her close associate, Ms. Sasikalaa, she came to the court around 4.30 p.m. Twentytwo questions were put to her by Mr. S.S.P. Darwesh, Special Judge-II, and the process lasted nearly an hour.

The court then posted the case for October 17 for defence witnesses.

The other nine persons cited as accused including the former Chief Secretary, Mr. T. V. Venkataraman, the former TNEB Chairman, Mr. N. Haribhaskar, and the former Finance Secretary, Mr. N. Narayanan, already answered the questions. The CB-CID case is that the accused, along with five suppliers, conspired in connection with the coal import, causing a wrongful loss of about Rs. 6.50 crores to the Government.

In her replies, a confident-looking Ms. Jayalalithaa, denied the charges against her and said the entire case was a frame-up, foisted on her ``with the malicious intent of besmirching my name and sullying my political reputation''. The case had been filed to derive political mileage. She said that during cross- examination the investigating officer admitted that he had been pressured by his higher-ups to file the case. There was no loss to the State exchequer because of the import. The import option was thought of in the public interest to save the State from a calamitous situation in power generation and from power cuts. It was an ``example of crisis management at its best'', she asserted. No misdeed was committed in the import.

With regard to a question on the Janata Party president, Dr. Subramanian Swamy's complaint, she said his acts were politically motivated. The High Court ultimately allowed the import, which indicated genuineness of the matter.

Ms. Jayalalithaa explained that the file on coal import came to her as per the usual procedure and in the normal course with a final circulation note summing up the required details. In the note, she saw the acceptance given by the then PWD Secretary, Mr. V. Sundaram, for the import. Mr. Sundaram had agreed to and approved the TNEB decision for importing coal and affixed his signature. As the last person, she signed the final circulation note.

A large crowd of AIADMK volunteers cheered Ms. Jayalalitha as she came to the court and also as she was leaving the premises.

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Section  : Southern States
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