Click to play videoBangalore/Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday appeared for hearing before a Bangalore court in a more-than-a-decade-old corruption case. Jayalalithaa was asked nearly 400 questions during Thursday's hearing that was barred for media personnel.
Appearance of Jayalalithaa as an accused in the 1996 corruption case is a reminder of an uncomfortable past for the Chief Minister who's pleas for an exemption from a personal apperance was rejected by the Supreme Court in September.
special arrangements were made and the hearing in the Rs 66 crore disporportionate assets case was held inside Bangalore's Central Jail, even journalists were kept away for security reasons.
special judge BM Mallikarjunaiah, who is hearing the case, asked questions to Jayalalithaa who was sitting on a chair along with her friend and co-accused Sasikala. Sudhakaran and Illavarasi two other accused were present as well.
According to a prosecution lawyer who was there in the court room, the Judge asked Jayalalithaa 380 questions regarding properties she owned and statements of witnesses.
To most questions, regarding what was said by others, she responded by saying "I have no knowledge of it".
"For whatever evidenc she din't know and what others have said she said she's din't know. For questions relating to her, she gave the answer," said Jayalalithaa's lawyer B Kumar.
After answering nearly 400 questions, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will have to return to Bangalore on Friday.
Back in Tamil Nadu there was reminder of how much has changed since 1996. Then the DMK defeated Jayalalithaa using the corruption plank, but in 2011, politically decimated by the 2G scam, the party is not in a position to go on a full blown offensive against Jayalalithaa.
"I will not ask for her resignation, but she tried to delay the case by seeking exemption," said DMK chief Karunanidhi.
While her personal appearance was an embarassment, it may not change much politcally or legally. What will be crucial for Jayalalithaa is the verdict in the 15-year-old case, which may still take a while.
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