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Jaya's plea to re-evaluate seized jewellery rejected

A Tamil Nadu special judge today dismissed the petition filed by former chief minister J Jayalalitha and her associate Sasikala Natrajan seeking re-evaluation of the jewellery seized during a raid on their Poes Garden residence in Madras in December 1996.

Special Judge S Sambandam is trying cases of corruption during the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's rule in the state.

The state Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption had raided Jayalalitha's residence and seized jewellery worth Rs 38.3 million in connection with the case filed against her for amassing wealth to the tune of Rs 666.5 million, which is grossly disproportionate to her known sources of income, during her tenure as chief minister.

Jayalalitha and Sasikala had sought re-evaluation of the jewellery by an approved valuer under the Wealth Tax Act, saying they had to file wealth-tax returns.

The DVAC said they could file their returns on the basis of the valuation done during December 7-12, 1996, by an appraiser approved by the customs department of the Union finance ministry.

It said the jewellery is in the custody of the Reserve Bank of India and valuating it again would be superfluous.

Dismissing the petition, Judge Sambandam observed that since the wealth-tax department is another arm of the Union government, it cannot object to the certificate issued by a valuer attached to the customs department.

UNI

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