NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Rejecting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s plea, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered her to appear before a Special Court in Bangalore Thursday for a scheduled hearing in the disproportionate assets case.
The AIDMK leader, who pleaded for postponing the hearing in the case against her by a few days, also failed in her attempts to get the venue of the proceedings shifted closer to airport with both the Apex court and the Special Court turning down her last minute plea. The Special Court also ordered Jayalalithaa to be present Thursday.
An Apex court bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Dipak Misra while giving its direction after Karnataka assured it of providing foolproof security asked Jayalalithaa how could a public figure like her remain away from people after she sought a postponement over security issues.
“You are public figure. How can you remain away from people?” the bench remarked when senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi persisted with his apprehensions over her safety.
Jayalalithaa had contended that the Karnataka government had failed to provide sufficient security.
Karnataka’s Chief Secretary and its Director General of Police both filed affidavits assuring the apex court of foolproof security measures in tune with her Z plus category status and elite National Security Guards(NSG) cover.
The bench turned down Jayalalithaa’s plea to at least shift the venue of her trial closer to the airport.
Her counsel said since the trial court, located in a central prison, is 65 km from the airport her safety could be rendered vulnerable. “What more do you want? The helipad has been prepared. Once the hearing is over, fly back home,” the bench observed.
In Bangalore, Special Judge B M Mallikarjunaiah directed Jayalalithaa to be present at the court for recording her statement and police to ensure proper security arrangements.
The judge rejected her plea to hold the hearing at Jakkur Flying School near the airport.
The proceedings are being shifted to a court hall located close to the Parappana Agrahara central jail premises on the city outskirts from the City Civil Court complex in the heart of the city in view of security cover needed for her.
A tight security blanket has been thrown around the jail.(PTI)