Bengaluru: Senior Counsel and former State Advocate General B.V. Acharya is back as the special public prosecutor (SPP) in the disproportionate assets case against AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa.
Karnataka government issued notification in this regards today after the Supreme Court on Monday declared that Tamil Nadu government had no right to appoint SPP in the case since transfer of the case to Karnataka.
Mr. Acharya had resigned in 2012 citing pressure from the interested persons and other quarters.
The Apex Court had also declared as unauthorised the Tamil Nadu’s action of appointing G. Bhavani Singh as SPP and had asked State of Karnataka to file written statement in the appeals filed by Ms. Jayalalitha before the High Court questioning her conviction in the case.
The Supreme Court had also asked the High Court to ignore the statement filed by Mr. Singh.
The controversy
The Karnataka government appointed senior lawyer Bhavani Singh in February 2013 as the Special Public Prosecutor replacing B.V.Acharya, who cited suffering at the hands of ‘interested parties’. The appointment of the SPP was challenged by DMK leader K.Anbazhagan on the grounds that the accused was in collusion with the Special Public Prosecutor.
The Karnataka HC had rejected the plea after which the DMK general secretary challenged the Supreme Court over the appointment. Former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa argued that the Mr. Anbazhagan’s plea was not ‘genuine’.
The curious case of the SPP
1996: Former Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy files case alleging Jayalalithaa amassed properties disproportionate to her known sources of income
November, 2003: Case shifted to Karnataka High Court after DMK cries foul about fairness of trial in Tamil Nadu.
February, 2005: Karnataka appoints the former Advocate-General B.V. Acharya as Special Public Prosecutor.
February, 2012: B.V. Acharya expresses inability to continue as SPP, citing pressure from BJP for holding the post of AG (since past 6 months)read more
August 15, 2012: B.V. Acharya quits as SPP after Karnataka accepts his resignation. read more
February 3, 2013: G. Bhavani Singh appointed as SPP as Acharya quits, citing mental agony over Lokayukta order to probe him.read more
August 26, 2013: Karnataka issues notification, citing no reasons, withdrawing Bhavani Singh’s appointment as SPP. Singh moves Supreme Court against the withdrawal.read more
September 30, 2013: SC quashes Karnataka’s notification, reinstates Singh.
February 28, 2014: Apex court judge dismisses SPP plea to present seized silver articles of Jayalalithaa’s, says he is trying to cause delay.
February 26, 2015: DMK leader K. Anbazhagan moves for Singh’s removal, saying issue of his continuation is still pending. read more
April 27, 2015: Supreme Court strikes down Singh’s appointment as SPP.
