Jayalalithaa DA case- SC reserves verdict

Arguments in the J Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case came to a close with the Supreme Court of India reserving its verdict in the case. A Division Bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy while reserving the verdict directed Karnataka and the respondents in the case to submit their written submissions by Friday.

On the last date of hearing Special Public Prosecutor for Karnataka, B V Acharya concluded his arguments. Submissions were made by Jayalalithaa's counsel as well. The Bench had posted the matter for today and directed the others part of the case to conclude arguments. For Karnataka Siddharth Luthra argued on the seizure of assets of the five companies - Indo-Doha Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Signora Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Ramraj Agro Mills Ltd., Meadow Agro Farms, and Riverway Agro Products. Counsel for Jayalalithaa Harin Raval also made submissions.

Ordered reserved for judgment:

Karnataka had come in appeal to the Supreme Court against the verdict of the Karnataka High Court which had acquitted J Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu chief minister and her aides, Sasikala Natrajan, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran. The High Court had reversed the verdict of the trial court which had convicted all the four.

When the matter was initially came up before the Supreme Court it had been adjourned on a couple of occasions. However the Bench decided that it would conclude the matter soon. The Bench would hear the matter between Tuesday and Thursday and arguments went on for almost two months.

The verdict has now been reserved for judgment. There is no time frame which is usually given by any court on when it would pronounce the verdict. Members of the Karnataka legal team however indicated that it may be delivered by August.