Jaya gift case adjourned to Nov 22

Chennai, Nov 1 (UNI) A Special Court trying CBI cases today adjourned to November 22 further hearing of the Rs two crore gift case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and two others.

When the case came up for hearing before Principal Special Judge S Meenakshisundaram, former AIADMK minister Alagu Thirunavukarasu, co-accused in the case, appeared before him. Following this, the judge adjourned further hearing to November 22.

According to the CBI, during her tenure as Chief Minister between 1991-96, Ms Jayalalithaa received gifts in the form of 89 Demand Drafts taken in the name of 57 persons, to the tune of Rs 12 crore, on the occasion of her birthday in 1992. She deposited them in her savings bank account in Canara Bank.

This was an offence punishable under Section 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Receipt of valuables from persons with whom she/he had official dealings). The then ministers K A Sengottaiyan and Alagu Thirunavukarasu helped in commission of the offence, the CBI said.

Ms Jayalalithaa had on September 14 appeared before the court in connection with the case, while Mr Sengottaiyan appeared before the court last month. However, Mr Alagu Thirunavukarasu did not appear before the court earlier as the summons could not be served on him.

UNI XR AA PA ND1950