Jaya wealth case: Defence witnesses to depose from Jan 21

With the completion of deposition of all four accused, the Special Court trying the wealth case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa would start recording the evidence of defence witnesses from January 21.

Special judge M S Balakrishna posted the matter to January 21 for recording of the evidence of defence witnesses after the fourth accused Ilavarasi today answered 79 questions, completing all 650 questions framed by the court.

Responding to one of the questions, Ilavarasi, a relative of Sasikala Natarajan, close aide of Jayalalithaa, submitted the case had been filed against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo because of 'political compulsions'.

Ilavarasi submitted she would also file written statements to some of the questions and would also examine the witnesses. The Judge then directed the counsels representing the

accused C Manishankhar and Asokan to file a list of witnesses by January 11 and said recording of their evidence would commence from January 21.

Manishankhar sought time till Jan 21 to file the list of witnesses in the wake of public holidays because of 'Pongal' (Sankranthi) festival and submitted the recording of evidence of the defence witnesses could begin from January 27, to which the court did not agree.

The court directed the counsels to furnish the interim list of witnesses in advance.