Sasikala may be released from prison by Jan 27, lawyer tells HC

Sasikala may be released from prison by Jan 27, lawyer tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 08.01.2021

V K Sasikala, close aide of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who is at present incarcerated in a Bengaluru prison after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case is likely to be released by January 27.

A submission to this effect was made by her counsel before the Madras high court on Thursday while seeking adjournment of an appeal moved by the income tax department against Sasikala.

When the plea came up for hearing, Sasikala’s counsel submitted that the case might be adjourned after January 27 as she is likely to be released by then so that they would be able to get instructions directly from her. Recording the submission, a division bench of Justice M Duraiswamy and Justice T V Tamilselvi sought the opinion of counsel for income tax T R Senthil Kumar.

As he submitted that the department has no objection for the adjournment, the court posted the plea on February 4 for further hearing.

The issue pertains to returns filed by Sasikala for assessment year 1994-95 for ₹28.86 lakh. Subsequently, a raid conducted by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) found that she had concealed purchase of 80 acres of land during the assessment year.

Therefore, based on the DVAC report, the income tax department passed an order dated March 14, 2002, demanding tax to the tune of ₹48 lakh.

Aggrieved, Sasikala challenged the order before the income tax appellate tribunal (ITAT) which quashed the assessment order. Challenging the tribunal’s order, the department moved the present appeal in the high court.

On February 5, when the plea came up for hearing, Sasikala pointed out that the department chose to withdraw a similar appeal pending against actor Rajinikanth citing a circular issued by central board of direct taxes (CBDT) dated September 8, 2019, directing the department to not go on appeal in cases valued below ₹1 crore. She sought the court to direct the department to extend similar relief to her since the value of the appeal is below ₹1 crore.

Refusing to withdraw the appeal, the department informed that Sasikala could not seek relief under the circular since prosecution had already been initiated in her case.