In what has come as a big setback for AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, the Madras High Court has refused to discharge from three cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate.
The cases dating back to the 1990s pertain to violations of foreign exchange regulations.
The ED had in 1996 probed charges against the now defunct JJ TV, where Sasikala was director and chairperson. The charges related to foreign exchange payments to various companies for uplinking facilities and transponder hiring charges.
The Madurai Bench also allowed the ED's revision petition, and went on to set aside her discharge in the Rs 3 crore deposit case and she will now have to face trial.
The case pertains to Bharani Beach Resorts, where Sasikala had been charged with transferring Rs 3 crore (or USD 19 lakh) to the non-resident non-repatriable account of her friend, Susheela. The amount was allegedly re-routed to Sasikala, who then purchased.
In May 2015, the Economic Offences Court discharged Sasikala from the deposits case stating that the ED had no evidence to prosecute her. The ED, however, then challenged her discharge in the case.
Justice Chockalingam also allowed two revision petitions discharging Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran from two FERA violation cases.
The cases date back to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s first term in power. Sasikala, who was the late CM’s confidante was arrested on June 20, 1996 for FERA violations, shortly after Jayalalithaa was routed in the Assembly Elections. She spent 11 months in jail before she was granted bail.