New Delhi: In a relief to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court Monday quashed the withdrawal of Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh in a disproportionate assets case against her.
The apex court also asked the state high court to consider giving, in consultation with the state government, an extension to the presiding judge in the case who is retiring Monday upon his superannuation.
The apex court bench headed by Justice B.S. Chauhan said, "We recommend that the Karnataka High Court in consultation with Karnataka state government to consider to extend the superannuation of Judge Balakrishna", given the peculiar circumstances and voluminous evidence in the case.
Jayalalithaa and two other co-accused in the case had contended that when the trial in the 18-year old case was nearing conclusion, the Congress government in Karnataka at the behest of her political rivals in Tamil Nadu politics, withdrew SPP Bhavani Singh from the case when he was in the third day of his final arguments.
