Jayalalithaa appears in court

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September 14, 2006 14:15 IST

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday appeared in a designated Central Bureau court in connection with the Rs 2-crore 'birthday gift case', amidst tight security.

The court had earlier issued summons for her personal appearance.

Two former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ministers K Sengottayan and Azhagu Thirunavukkarasu, who have been named as co-accused for abetting the party chief, did not appear in court, claiming they had not received the summons.

On August 9, Special Judge S Meenkashisundaram had ordered issuance of summons to the three.

Following the submission by the two former ministers, the judge ordered that fresh summons be issued to them. He posted the case for hearing on October 16.

Earlier, counsel for Jayalalithaa, N Jothi, MP, asked the judge to provide her with copies of the 2000-page charge sheet.

The CBI counsel Jacob Daniel contended that all three accused have to be present in court for the purpose of issuance of the charge sheet.

Jothi submitted that the Madras high court, in a particular case, had allowed the judge to furnish copies of the charge sheet, even in the absence of the accused.

Jothi also filed a petition for furnishing the copies.

The judge posted it for hearing on October 18.

The Judge also allowed a petition filed by Jayalalithaa under the Code of Criminal Procedure to dispense with her personal appearance in the hearing.

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