Even while doubts over the withdrawal of 18-year old Income Tax returns case against Jayalalitha were lingering in the minds of people and the appeal against her conviction in the disproportionate assets case was pending in Karnataka High Court, DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi asked whether it was proper for Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley meeting her at her residence on Jan 18.
In a hard-hitting statement, Kalaignar termed as “blatant lie” Jaitley’s explanation that the meeting was only a courtesy call.
In a statement, Kalaignar said Arun Jaitley has gone to the residence of Jayalalitha, convicted and sentenced for four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 100 crore in the disproportionate assets case, and met her for 40 minutes on Jan 18. This only reminded the saying oft quoted by Thanthai Periyar the ‘the cat is out of the bag’.
Already, even while she was the Chief Minister and the trial in the assets case against her was in the final stages, the visit of Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and calling on her and later going to Bangalore where the trial was conducted, became a point of controversy all over the country.
The IT cases against Jayalalitha and Sasikala extended for 18 years and when the Assistant Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dhakshinamurthy strictly told them to appear before the court by the end of last year, Jayalalitha side informed that they had filed a compounding petition before the IT department which was pending.
They did not come forward for this departmental solution when the courts, government and lawyers spent several hours in 18 years. They went up to the Supreme Court and its golden time was wasted when also they did not say they were prepared for solution through the department. So also when the Supreme Court on 30.1.2014 ordered the case to be disposed in four months they did not make this offer. When on 24.2.2006 Supreme Court Justices P.N.Agarwal and A.K.Mathur told them “You are making a mockery of court proceedings. How long can you prolong the case”, they did not come up with this proposal.
Referring to Jayalalitha’s meeting with Jaitley after BJP came to power at the Centre, and thereafter she comes forward to pay the penalty for the compounding of the case for compromise and demands withdrawal of the case, will it not raise genuine doubt for people? The withdrawal of prosecution by tax authorities after allowing a plea by her to compound offences relating to non-filing of IT returns for a particular period, he asked, “Will this not lead to suspicion among people when they link such happenings?”
What is the reason for seeking compromise after prolonging the case for 18 years? Will the government agree if anybody commit such mistakes, and at a critical point when the court would convict offer to pay penalty and seek the withdrawal of the case? Is the popular belief that all are equal before law remains only on paper? Will the courts accept if an offender who looted crores of ruprees came forward to repay and offer compromise? Are not the happenings seem to be a drama, Kalaignar asked.
Is it proper for the Union Minister of the department meeting Jayalalitha when she has filed petition for compromise with the IT department and thereafter the department withdrawing the case and now the same Union Minster meeting her after she has been convicted in another case and the appeal pending in courts?
Asking how Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley could call on a former Chief Minister convicted in the wealth case by a special court, Kalaignar said Jaitley’s reported explanation that he had done so with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “approval” only raised more doubts among the people. Citing news reports that the meeting had taken place with the consent of Modi, Kalaignar sought to know if the Prime Minister too was a party to the meet.
Earlier when Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, the then Union Minister Yashwant Sinha came to Jayalalitha’s residence like this when she gave him a letter for recommendation in the IT case about which he has referred in detail in his book. Kalaignar slammed Jaitley’s comment that it was a “courtesy call” and quoted a Tamil proverb to ask if there was any difference between such a comment and a plain lie.
Observing the actions taken by them after they assumed power promising to establish honesty there seems to be big difference between their utterings and actions. When doubts were still lingering in the minds of people, the Union Minister visiting her at her residence only proves the saying oft cited by Periyar ‘the cat is out of the bag’, Kalaignar said.25 January 2015
In a hard-hitting statement, Kalaignar termed as “blatant lie” Jaitley’s explanation that the meeting was only a courtesy call.
In a statement, Kalaignar said Arun Jaitley has gone to the residence of Jayalalitha, convicted and sentenced for four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 100 crore in the disproportionate assets case, and met her for 40 minutes on Jan 18. This only reminded the saying oft quoted by Thanthai Periyar the ‘the cat is out of the bag’.
Already, even while she was the Chief Minister and the trial in the assets case against her was in the final stages, the visit of Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and calling on her and later going to Bangalore where the trial was conducted, became a point of controversy all over the country.
The IT cases against Jayalalitha and Sasikala extended for 18 years and when the Assistant Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dhakshinamurthy strictly told them to appear before the court by the end of last year, Jayalalitha side informed that they had filed a compounding petition before the IT department which was pending.
They did not come forward for this departmental solution when the courts, government and lawyers spent several hours in 18 years. They went up to the Supreme Court and its golden time was wasted when also they did not say they were prepared for solution through the department. So also when the Supreme Court on 30.1.2014 ordered the case to be disposed in four months they did not make this offer. When on 24.2.2006 Supreme Court Justices P.N.Agarwal and A.K.Mathur told them “You are making a mockery of court proceedings. How long can you prolong the case”, they did not come up with this proposal.
Referring to Jayalalitha’s meeting with Jaitley after BJP came to power at the Centre, and thereafter she comes forward to pay the penalty for the compounding of the case for compromise and demands withdrawal of the case, will it not raise genuine doubt for people? The withdrawal of prosecution by tax authorities after allowing a plea by her to compound offences relating to non-filing of IT returns for a particular period, he asked, “Will this not lead to suspicion among people when they link such happenings?”
What is the reason for seeking compromise after prolonging the case for 18 years? Will the government agree if anybody commit such mistakes, and at a critical point when the court would convict offer to pay penalty and seek the withdrawal of the case? Is the popular belief that all are equal before law remains only on paper? Will the courts accept if an offender who looted crores of ruprees came forward to repay and offer compromise? Are not the happenings seem to be a drama, Kalaignar asked.
Is it proper for the Union Minister of the department meeting Jayalalitha when she has filed petition for compromise with the IT department and thereafter the department withdrawing the case and now the same Union Minster meeting her after she has been convicted in another case and the appeal pending in courts?
Asking how Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley could call on a former Chief Minister convicted in the wealth case by a special court, Kalaignar said Jaitley’s reported explanation that he had done so with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “approval” only raised more doubts among the people. Citing news reports that the meeting had taken place with the consent of Modi, Kalaignar sought to know if the Prime Minister too was a party to the meet.
Earlier when Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, the then Union Minister Yashwant Sinha came to Jayalalitha’s residence like this when she gave him a letter for recommendation in the IT case about which he has referred in detail in his book. Kalaignar slammed Jaitley’s comment that it was a “courtesy call” and quoted a Tamil proverb to ask if there was any difference between such a comment and a plain lie.
Observing the actions taken by them after they assumed power promising to establish honesty there seems to be big difference between their utterings and actions. When doubts were still lingering in the minds of people, the Union Minister visiting her at her residence only proves the saying oft cited by Periyar ‘the cat is out of the bag’, Kalaignar said.25 January 2015
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