FERA violation case: VK Sasikala can appear via video-conferencing, says Madras HC

Sasikala’s petition before the court stated that her ill health would not permit her to travel to Chennai and back in a police vehicle.
FERA violation case: VK Sasikala can appear via video-conferencing, says Madras HC
FERA violation case: VK Sasikala can appear via video-conferencing, says Madras HC
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The Madras High Court has permitted former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala to appear via video conferencing in a case relating to violations under the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act (FERA). The sidelined AIADMK leader is currently serving prison time at the Parappana Agrahara jail in Bengaluru following her conviction in the Disproportionate Assets case by the Supreme Court. Sasikala’s petition before the court stated that her ill health would not permit her to travel to Chennai and back in a police vehicle. 

According to one report in The Hindu, Justice Anand N Venkatesh set aside an order passed by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate which directed the Superintendent of the Bengaluru prison to bring Sasikala for questioning on May 13. She will be examined under Section 313 of the Code Of Criminal Procedure (Power to examine the accused). While she may appear via video-conferencing for the interrogation, her answers will be recorded by the magistrate and sent to her for attestation. In 2017, the Egmore Magistrate Court had passed orders allowing Sasikala to appear via video-conferencing. However, it was later found that her answers were not countersigned.

According to one report in The New Indian Express, Sasikala's counsel pointed out that she had already been allowed to appear via video-conferencing. Her petition also stated that she had back pain among other health issues. She argued that unnecessary spending of public money could be avoided if she appears via video-conferencing.

The Enforcement Directorate had filed the case in the 1990s for the violation of foreign exchange regulations. In 1996, the ED probed charges against JJ TV, a predecessor of Jaya TV, where Sasikala was the director and chairperson. These charges relate to foreign exchange payments to various companies for uplinking facilities and transponder hiring charges.

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