This Article is From Apr 17, 2015

Jayalalithaa's Bail Extended by Supreme Court

Jayalalithaa's Bail Extended by Supreme Court
New Delhi: Former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's bail has been extended by the Supreme Court, which today asked a court in Karnataka to decide on her petition by May 12.

The Supreme Court directed the Karnataka High Court to hold daily hearings to dispose of Jayalalithaa's appeal against her conviction last year in a corruption case.

Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years in prison by a trial court in Bangalore that found her guilty of collecting illegal assets worth Rs 66 crores. Her appeal against that verdict is being heard by the Karnataka High Court. She was granted bail for six months in October and the Supreme Court today extended it.

Jayalalithaa could get an even longer reprieve as the Karnataka High Court has to wait for the Supreme Court to decide on a petition seeking the removal of the prosecutor involved in the case.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court had differed over the petition filed by a DMK leader, and it has now been referred to a new three judge bench. DMK leader K. Anbazhagan has said in his petition that Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh must be removed as his appointment was not valid.

If Bhavani Singh is removed, hearings over the last three months on Jayalalithaa's appeal will stand cancelled.

The appeals will then have to be heard again after a new prosecutor is appointed.

The Supreme Court today said the Karnataka High Court "is at liberty" to ask for more time to decide on Jayalalithaa's appeal, given the petition on the prosecutor is pending in the top court.
 
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