The Madras High Court has ordered the Egmore Economic Offences Court to expedite the trial in the foreign exchange fraud case involving Sasikala.
The case pertains to allegations under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) that Jaya TV, a company associated with late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, imported equipment from abroad through fraudulent means. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed the case, listing Jaya TV as the first accused, its managing director Bhaskaran as the second accused, and Sasikala, its chairperson and director, as the third accused.
Currently pending at the Egmore Economic Offences Court, the trial has faced delays. Sasikala filed petitions in the Madras High Court challenging her inclusion as the primary accused in the charge sheet and certain summons issued by the Egmore Court.
During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Rajinish Pathiyil, representing the Enforcement Directorate, argued that discrepancies in the case schedule would not affect the trial and could be rectified by the trial court. Meanwhile, senior advocate P. Kumar, appearing for Sasikala, sought modifications to the trial schedule.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the division bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman dismissed Sasikala’s petitions. The court directed the Egmore court to expedite the proceedings without unnecessary adjournments. It also instructed the accused to fully cooperate with the trial process.