CHENNAI, January 23: The Economic Offences Court (EO-I) on Thursday adjourned the case against former chief minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha, for not furnishing her wealth and paying wealth tax for 1993-94, to March 5.Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (EO-I) V Periyakarupiah on Thursday granted permission to Jayalalitha to be represented by her counsel following her petition seeking exemption from appearing in the court. He, however, ordered her to appear whenever the court summoned her.
Jayalalitha appeared at around 10.30 a.m. and left after receiving the complaint copy at 10.35 a.m. The case was filed by Wealth Tax Central Circle, Income Tax (2), Chennai, Assistant Commissioner N Sunderrajan.
In his complaint he had said that she had paid wealth tax from 1966-67 but had not done so for 1993 - 94. Her wealth was estimated at Rs 3.17 crore. Along with the interest of Rs 1.69 lakh she was to pay tax of Rs 4.71 lakh.
After her petitions, the final amount to be paid as tax wasfixed at Rs 1.92 lakh. The department had issued notices to her for failure to furnish her wealth and the tax payable on July 30, 1996. The case was filed after the notices drew a blank. The petition by Jayalalitha seeking exemption from appearance said that she was the general secretary of a political party and was the Chief Minister of the State for five years. Hence due to security and political reasons she cannot appear in the court at all times.
The petition said Jayalalitha was exempted from appearing for her cases for wilful failure to file income tax returns. The petition prayed for a similar decision.
The ACMM in his order said the court had exempted her from appearing in the IT cases. He ordered her to appear whenever the court summoned her, while allowing her counsel to represent her on other occassions.
AIADMK partymen crowded the court premises. Former ministers V Sathyamoorthy, E Madhusoodanan and other party functionaries were present. The party's women's wing raised slogans when
Jayalalitha's Tata Sierra entered and left the court premises.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
