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SC dismisses Jaya's plea in coal import scam case

The Supreme Court today dismissed a Special Leave Petition of AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha challenging a Madras high court order in the Rs 7 billion coal import scam case.

The high court had set aside the order of the special judge adjourning the hearing in the case till the completion of further investigation in foreign countries.

A division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices G T Nanavati and Pukhan dismissed the SLP after hearing the arguments of K K Venugopal and Shanti Bhushan, counsel for Jayalalitha and the Tamil Nadu government respectively.

The case, relating to import of coal by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board during Jayalalitha's tenure as chief minister, was filed on a complaint by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy alleging irregularities to the extent of Rs 7 billion in the deal.

The chargesheet in the case was filed on April 2, 1997.

The police, however, had told the trial court that further investigation was necessary in foreign countries.

Subsequently, on a petition filed by Jayalalitha, the trial court adjourned the case till the completion of investigations.

UNI

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