Chennai: The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (Economic Offence-II), Egmore at Allikulam has condemned Enforcement Directorate for not appearing before the court in connection with a 20-year old Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (Fera) case registered against V.N. Sudhakaran, now lodged in the prison along with his aunt and AIADMK (Amma) general secretary V. K. Sasikala and J. Ilavarasi in disproportionate asset case.
ED registered the Fera case against him on charge of illegal exchange of foreign currencies for Super Duper TV, now defunct, during 1995-96. Hefty amount transferred violating RBI norms. In May 2015, the ACMM discharged him from the case, which was set aside by Madras high court in February this year. Following this the court reopened the case and fresh charge sheet was filed against him on June 20.
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday before Judge S. Malarmathy neither counsel nor officials of ED appeared before the court. Later, court staffs called ED counsel over phone and enquired them for non-appearance in the court during the hearing.
The judge condemned ED for non-appearance and threatened to inform the matter to higher officials in ED. Counsel for Sudhakaran sought adjournment of the hearing to September 7.
On June 20 the Karnataka police brought him to the court campus amidst tight security. When the judge read out the charges framed against him and his brother TTV Bhaskaran, they denied the charges. On their request, the court permitted cross-examining prosecution witnesses. On Tuesday, witness Janardanan was present in the court for cross-examination.
