Date:18/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/18/stories/2005041807070600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Special Court tenure extended by 6 months

K.T. Sangameswaran

It was set up to try corruption cases

CHENNAI: The tenure of the Special Court, started during the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule to try corruption cases, has been extended by six months, till September 30, official sources told The Hindu.

Only three chargesheeted cases are pending before the Special Court and trial is on in all the cases.

The Government has been extending the tenure from time to time taking into consideration pending cases. When the tenure of the court ended on September 30 last year, it was extended by six months. Usually, the proposal for granting extension of tenure is forwarded by the Madras High Court and the Government passes order on it.

Wealth case

At present, two cases relating to alleged accumulation of "disproportionate wealth" against former All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Ministers, Ku.Pa. Krishnan and Theni V. Panneerselvam, and another case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the purchase and supply of laboratory articles meant for government arts and science colleges and aided colleges during the previous AIADMK rule are pending. All the three cases were registered during the earlier DMK rule. However, the charge sheets were filed after the AIADMK regained power.

In the Rs. 3.72-crore "disproportionate assets case" against Mr. Krishnan, besides him, eight persons have been cited as accused. In the Rs.21.36-lakh "disproportionate wealth case" against Mr. Panneerselvam, three persons figure as accused.

In the third case, , the charge sheet against Kasinathan, former Joint Director of Collegiate Education, and four others, was that there were irregularities in the purchase and supply of laboratory articles and the accused secured a pecuniary advantage of Rs. 56.36 lakhs.

Examination of prosecution witnesses in the three cases has begun.

Three Special Courts were set up during the DMK period in 1997 at the Singaravelar Maaligai on Rajaji Salai in Chennai to try cases of corruption against the members of the previous AIADMK Ministry. Two of them were later disbanded considering the number of cases pending in them and the retirement of presiding officers.