India
The prosecution was launched against Sasikala, her relative V Bhaskaran and JJTV (now defunct) by the Enforcement Directorate in 1995 and 1996 on charges of violating FERA.
Updated : Jun 22, 2017, 07:55 AM IST
An Economic Offences Court in Chennai on Wednesday framed charges against AIADMK Amma faction general secretary VK Sasikala, who is currently lodged in Bengaluru jail, in connection with a two-decade-old FERA violation case for the transaction of foreign currency through unauthorised channels for procuring equipment and hiring transponders for now defunct JJTV.
Wearing a prison uniform, Sasikala appeared before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Economic Offence-I) A Zakir Hussain through video conferencing from the Parapanna Agraharam jail in Bengaluru where she has been lodged ever since her conviction in February in the disproportionate assets case. Her nephew V Bhaskaran appeared in person.
Judge A Zakir Hussain read out charges against them and sought a response from the accused side. To most of the questions, Sasikala answered in the negative. It was alleged by the prosecution that the payments were illegally routed to US-based Rimsat through firms having a network in the Philippines and Singapore.
The prosecution was launched against Sasikala, her relative V Bhaskaran and JJTV (now defunct) by the Enforcement Directorate in 1995 and 1996 on charges of violating FERA.