The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Final arguments in colour TV scam case begin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 10, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Final arguments in colour TV scam case begin

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Final arguments in the colour TV scam case commenced in the Madras High Court on Thursday.

The prosecution submitted that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had cleared the files pertaining to the purchase of TV sets so as to allow the other accused to obtain pecuniary advantage for themselves and others.

When the appeals filed by those convicted and the government’s appeal against Ms. Jayalalithaa’s acquittal came up for hearing before Justice M. Jeyapaul, Public Prosecutor P. Kumaresan said that certain rules were relaxed for purchasing the TV sets. This was done despite objection from the then Finance Secretary. Instead of following open tendering, the accused opted for limited tenders.

He said the cost of the colour television sets purchased was above market value and caused a loss of Rs.10 crore to the government. The prosecution had proved that the money was paid by the agents of six companies to the accused, including former Minister T.M. Selvaganapathy and senior IAS officers.

On behalf of Ms. Jayalalithaa, counsel Navaneethakrishnan said that the lower court had exonerated her as there was no evidence to link her with the charges under Section 120 B of Indian Penal Code (Criminal Conspiracy) and Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Though the announcement was made in August, the former Chief Minister had enquired about the progress of the scheme only in November, which showed that there was no undue haste on her side, counsel said.

On behalf of A5, Sathyamurthy, senior counsel K.S. Dinakaran said that the relaxation of rules was necessitated as the scheme was time-bound and the sets had to be distributed before the impending elections. He said that the procedure followed was better than that of open tenders.

He said that after a meeting held at the official residence of the then Chief Minister in which the Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary and Mr. Selvaganapathy participated and the system of limited tendering was explained, the then Finance Secretary had withdrawn all his objections.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu