Chennai, April 26: Madras High Court today granted exemption to former AIADMK Minister K A Sengottaiyan from personal appearance in a CBI court on May 11 in the gift case against former chief minister Jayalalithaa.
According to CBI, on the occasion of her birthday in 1992 Jayalalithaa had accepted 89 demand drafts worth Rs two crore from 57 people drawn on various banks favouring her. The CBI claimed that Sengottaiyan and another then minister Alagu Thirunavukarasu had also presented her with DDs for Rs 22.53 lakh and Rs 22.50 lakh respectively.
CBI had filed chargesheet against Jayalalitha, Sengottaiyan and Alazhagu Thirunavukarsu.
The three had filed discharge applications on the ground that there was inordinate delay of 10 years in completing investigation. However, the CBI court judge dismissed the applications on April 12 and directed them to appear for framing of charges on May 11.
Aggrieved by the order, Sengottaiyan preferred a criminal revision petition in high court seeking to stay proceedings in CBI court and dispense with personal appearance.
He contended that the trial court failed to consider the grounds raised in the discharge application.
Dispensing with personal appearance of Sengottaiyan, Justice Basha said the petitioner should be given a reasonable opportunity to put forth his contentions.
He adjourned hearing on the petition to June 29.
The high court had on April 20 exempted Jayalalithaa from personal appearance in the CBI court in the case.
——–PTI