The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the trial proceedings in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets cases against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on a petition filed by a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader accusing the prosecution of being under the influence of the state government and acting in undue haste to complete the trial.
A bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice B N Agrawal, while staying the trial proceedings in two cases before Chennai Courts, issued notice to the Union government on DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan's plea for transfer of the cases from Chennai to any other place outside Tamil Nadu.
The notices were also issued to Jayalalithaa, state director general of police, Jayalalithaa's confidante Sasikala and four others.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate T R Andhyarujina submitted that "if the state government, which is headed by Jayalalithaa is to be in charge of the conduct of the prosecution of the case, in which she figures as an accused, it will result in the negation of justice and rule of law".
The petitioner expressed apprehension that the public prosecutor appointed by the state government would not act in an unbiased manner against the chief minister as her Cabinet colleagues openly claim that these were false cases.
Accusing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadre of "attempting to terrorise the investigating officers and the witnesses by their public statements and their conduct", the petitioner sought transfer of the two cases to courts of equal and competent jurisdiction in another state.
