Apex Court begins hearing on pleas against Jaya’s acquittal in DA case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced final hearing on various appeals including the one filed by Karnataka against the acquittal of AIADMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and others in a disproportionate assets case.

A Bench, comprising justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy, asked senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Karnataka government, to start arguments in the matter.

The Karnataka government is arguing the case as the trial was shifted from Tamil Nadu and a Bangalore court had convicted the accused including Jayalalithaa who had succeeded in her challenge before the High Court there.

Opening his arguments, Dave said there were glaring mistakes in the order of the Karnataka High Court acquitting Jayalalithaa and others which needed to be set aside.

“There are glaring mistakes in the order of the Karnataka High Court acquitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, which has to be set aside. The trial court has given a very reasoned order holding them guilty and needs to be upheld,” Dave said.

He said the approach of the High Court was “very casual and troublesome” and would defeat the very motive of Prevention of Corruption Act (PC ACT).

Besides Jayalalithaa, others acquitted by the High Court were her close aide Sasikala and her two relatives, VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi.