Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case: Supreme Court refers plea to larger bench for removal of public prosecutor

The Supreme Court on Wednesday referred a plea seeking removal of a special public prosecutor in the disproportionate assets case of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to a larger bench of three judges, after a division bench gave differing opinions. The plea was filed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader K Anbazhagan.

"The Supreme Court has reiterated what it said in 2004 while transferring case from Tamil Nadu to Bengaluru. It said there was subversion of judicial process and public prosecutor was hand in glove. This was reason for transfer of case," lawyer R. Shanmugasundram said. "The same situation prevails now. The senior judge said this is classic case of judicial interference and subversion of judicial process," he added.

Jayalalithaa, who is currently out on bail till April 18, was sentenced to four years in jail on September 17 last year in a high-profile corruption case that has lasted nearly two decades. A special court in Karnataka found Jayalalithaa guilty of "disproportionately" amassing about 530 million rupees outside her known sources of income.

Jayalalithaa was legally obliged to step down as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, which she had governed since 2011 under her latest term. Following the news of her arrest, Jayalalithaa's supporters had clashed with the police and violence erupted in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Later, on October 17, 2014, Jayalalithaa was granted bail by the Supreme Court on grounds of poor health. The apex court extended her bail in December 2014 by another four months.