Bangalore: The Special Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 31, further recording of the statement of Sasikala Natarajan in connection with the disproportionate asset case filed against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa, in which she is the second accused.
Allowing the application by Sasikala`s counsel C Manishankar under section 309(2)CrPC seeking postponement, Special Judge B M Malliakarjunaiah adjourned the proceedings to July 31. He further directed interpreter C Harish to be present on that day.
Sasikala and two other accused V Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi had filed petitions in the High court yesterday, seeking a writ of quo warranto against Mallikarjunaiah who is trying the case and a writ of declaration declaring his appointment as Special Judge as "null and void."
Earlier,the court granted all four accused (Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi) exemption from personal appearance for today on applications filed by their counsels.
The Assistant Special Public Prosecutor opposed Manishankar`s application seeking time, to which the court observed that "there is no harm in waiting as the petitions are pending before the High Court".
The petitioners had prayed that the court issue a writ of quo warranto against Mallikarjunaiah, the first respondent, requiring him to show the appointment or notification by the government as a special judge presiding over 36th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court here and to consequently forbear him from functioning as a special judge and dealing with the case filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In the second prayer, they sought issue of a writ of declaration or any other order declaring his proposed appointment as special judge, reportedly in violation of the statutory requirement under Sec 3(1) of PC Act 1988 as "null and void" and forbear him from functioning as special judge.
On July 17, the special court had rejected petitions by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and others challenging appointment of Special Judge to try the disproportionate asset case filed against Jayalalithaa.
PTI
