Insolvent Actor-MP might invite disqualification: Experts

Chennai, Mar 3 (UNI) Does Actress and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Prada face the threat of disqualification for having been declared an insolvent by court? If Ms Jaya Prada was insolvent, according to Madras High Court official Assignee, she could no longer be a Member of Parliament, say legal experts.

They opined that a person could be disqualified for having been declared insolvent either before or after his/her election to Assembly or Parliament.

In this case, Ms Jaya Prada, partner Raj and Jaya Parada Cinema Houses in the city, had been declared insolvent by Madras High Court on September 18, 2006 on a creditor's petition, according to the Official Assignee.

If this was correct, the Election Commission could suo motu initiate action and disqualify her as Member of Parliament under Articles 102 and 103 of the Constitution, a Former Advocate General said.

Ms Jaya Prada got elected to the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in the May 2004 General Elections.

Madras High Court declaring Ms Jaya Parada and her two brothers Sriram Kumar and Rajbabu as insolvent came to light when Official Assignee S Sitrarasu disclosed the fact to the Chennai Corporation, consequent to the order of adjudication of properties held by them.

The corporation had obtained an order of adjudication after Ms Jaya Parada failed to pay Property Tax to the tune of about Rs 20 lakh.

The Official Assignee has told the corporation that the High Court had declared insolvent Mr Vishal of M/s Suny Movies, Theatre Raj, represented by its partners and Theatre Jaya Prada, represented by its partners at No 37 and No 38 General Patters Road respectively and asked the Corporation to file a claim before him.

According to official records, the Partners of the two theatres are Ms Jaya prada, her brothers Sriram Kumar and Rajbabu.

The Chennai Corporation, in its counter, also stated that Ms Jaya Prada is the owner of Jaya prada and Raj Theatres.

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