Jaya disproportionate assets case: SC sets July 1 deadline

New Delhi, June 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court today extended till July 1 the time to conclude the trial against former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case pending against her in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate(ACMM), (E.O.I.),Egmore, Chennai.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and C K Thakker extended the time at the request of the ACMM, Egmore, who had sought extension of time through a letter sent to the Supreme Court by post.

The case relates to non-filing of income tax returns by the AIADMK supremo in 1996 despite having taxable income.

Earlier, the apex court had scolded Jayalalitha and her close friend Sasikala Natrajan, who is also a co-accused in the case, for deliberately avoiding appearance in the court to prolong the trial proceedings.

The income tax commissioner had issued notices to her for evading income tax on her income which was well beyond her known sources of income.

The Supreme Court had directed the trial court to decide the case expeditiously.

The letter dated May 22 sent by the ACMM was listed for hearing before the court today. The apex court granted time till July 1 to the trial court to conclude the trial.

UNI AKS/SC RP GC1807