CHENNAI: The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Economic Offences) Court-I has adjourned hearing on the decade old FERA case against VK Sasikala, arrested and detained in connection with disproportionate asset in Bengaluru prison, to May 28.
On Monday the trial court Judge S Malarmathy taken up the hearing in the case after the Madras High Court in a recent order directed VK Sasikala to appear through video conferencing from the Bengaluru prison for questioning.
According to prosecution five cases registered against Sasikala and another accused Bhaskaran, brother of Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran, and J J Tv (predecessor of Jaya TV) by ED on charges of violating the FERA. They allegedly made payments in US and Singapore dollars to foreign firms for hiring transponders, equipment and up link facilities for J J TV during 1995 and 1996. The payments were illegally routed to US-based Rimsat through firms having network in the Philippines and Singapore. Violating the RBI norms they paid US $ 10 lakh and US $ 3.6 lakh, to these companies. The court took up the matter after Madras High court set aside the trial court order discharging them from the case.
After ED completed arguments the judge S Malarmathi recently directed Superintendent of the Parpana Agrahara prison to produce Sasikala before the court on May 13. Challenging the trial court order, Sasikala approached the Madras High court, which directed the Sasikala to appear before the trial court.
