Jayalalithaa ordered to appear before court on Oct. 4

By A. Subramani

CHENNAI, SEPT. 12. Fresh summons have been issued today against the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, and the AIADMK MP, Mr. T.T.V. Dinakaran, asking them to appear before the Principal Sessions Judge, Mr. S. Ashok Kumar, on October 4 to receive copies of chargesheet in the `London Hotels case'.

The Judge ordered the summons following an undertaking given by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) that the agency would serve the summons on both the accused this time. The DVAC had returned two earlier summons-June 12 and September 12, 2001-unserved.

When the matter came up, the prosecution wanted 3 months time for ``further investigation''. Turning down the plea, Mr. Ashok Kumar said he had granted 3 months to investigate the matter further when the prosecution sought 1 year in June last.

He also asked the investigating officer, Mr. S. Subbaraman, as to what probe had been conducted during the last three months. When the official replied that four witnesses were examined, Mr. Ashok Kumar said they were not new witnesses as they were already cited as witnesses in the chargesheet itself.

The official told the Judge that more investigation needed to be carried out, when asked as to why he did not serve the summons. Seeking to know whether the investigating agency could serve summons on the accused this time, the Judge said if that was not possible the court had other means to do it.

Summons are issued only after taking cognizance of the case details. If they are not served, it will not help the case, Mr. Ashok Kumar observed.

Later, the prosecution filed a memo in the court stating that they would serve summons on Ms. Jayalalithaa and Mr. Dinakaran, following which the Judge posted the matter to October 4.

However, declining to grant three more months for further investigation, the Judge said, ``so far no documents or statements of any of the witnesses had been forwarded to the court''.

The DVAC has charged Ms. Jayalalithaa with illegally funneling funds to the tune of Rs. 43.98 crores to foreign countries ``through other than regular banking channels'' to buy two hotels in the United Kingdom in 1994.

She has been accused of purchasing Hops Croft Holt Hotel at Steeple Astine, U.K. in the name of Godfrey Resources Corporation and Slaley Hall Estate, with the help of Mr. Dinakaran.

According to the DVAC, both the hotels were sold off in 1998 for about Rs. 121.53 crores.

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