Chennai: More than two decades after registering Fera case by the Enforcement Directorate against AIADMK (Amma) general secretary V.K. Sasikala, now detained in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate (Economic Offence-I), Egmore, at Allikulam has framed charges against her through video conference.
She was produced before judge A. Zakir Hussain through video-conference facility from the prison at 12.45 pm. During an hour long proceeding, the judge read out the charges in two cases registered by ED and he would frame charges against her two-other similar cases on July 1. When the judge asked her views on cases, she denied the charges.
Another accused her relative T.T.V. Bhaskaran, was also present in the court. The trial through the video-conference facility was conducted in a small hall and only counsel for ED and Sasikala were present in the hall.
According to prosecution five cases were registered against Sasikala and Another accused her relative T.T.V Bhaskaran and JJ TV (predecessor of Jaya TV) by ED on charges of violating the Fera. They 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. Earlier, the judge framed charges against her relative Baskaran, in connection with the same Fera case.
