SC dismisses Jayalalithaa’s exemption personal appearance plea in Bangalore trial court

The Supreme Court on Friday directed Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa to appear before a trial court in Bangalore, refusing to grant her exemption from personal appearance.

''It would tantamount to grant you privilege if we exempt you from appearance,'' the apex court said. ''We cannot set a wrong precedence.''

Jayalalithaa had sought exemption from personal appearance at the Bangalore trial court, claiming it would inconvenience her and that the date was unsuitable. The court is conducting a trial in the disproportionate assets case, where Jayalalithaa has been accused of amassing Rs66 crore illegally during her earlier tenure as chief minister between 1991 and 1996.

The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) had got the trial moved from Chennai to Bangalore in 2003, claiming that it would not be possible to conduct a free and fair trial in the Tamil Nadu capital, when she was the chief minister.

Jayalalithaa, who also heads the AIADMK, had appeared before the Bangalore court on 20 and 21 October. The court had framed 1,339 questions and she had replied to 567. The court had asked her to appear before it on November 8 and provide her response to the remaining questions.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister wanted to give her replies in writing, but the Bangalore court rejected her demand. She filed a plea in the Supreme Court on 1 November seeking exemption from personal appearance.