M A I N   N E W S

G.K. Moopanar dead

Chennai, August 30
Congressman and staunch Gandhi family loyalist G.K. Moopanar died here today after a prolonged illness, raising questions over the future of the Tamil Maanila Congress he founded in 1996 to fight the AIADMK.

Moopanar, who turned 71 earlier this month, died early this morning in a private hospital. He had not been keeping well for quite sometime.

Moopanar was admitted to the hospital for a minor surgery on July 31 but his condition turned critical after he developed lung infection and pneumonia. PTI


File photo of TMC President G.K.Moopnar who passed away in Chennai on Thursday morning seen in conversation with Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 
— PTI photo

SC stays proceedings
Jaya’s appeals in Tansi case
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 30
The Supreme Court today by an interim order stayed until further directions the proceedings in the Madras High Court on the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha against her conviction in the Tamil Nadu Industries Corporation case and the Pleasant Stay Hotel case relating to the addition of floors in the hotel illegally.

The stay was granted by a three judge Bench comprising Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha, Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice Ashok Bhan when the Attorney-General, Mr Soli J. Sorabjee, moved the petition on behalf of the union for transfer of the proceedings in both cases to some other high court.

The petition for transfer of cases said Mr Justice R. Belasubramaniam had refused to give enough time to the prosecutor Venkata Chelapati to answer voluminous documents rallied upon by the defence in both cases.

The court while passing the interim stay order also issued notices to the state of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Jayalalitha and others.

Whereas Ms Jayalalitha was awarded three years’ rigorous imprisonment in the Tansi land purchase case, she was awarded one year rigorous imprisonment in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case. It was because of her conviction in the former case that she was disqualified from contesting the last polls to the state Assembly.

Mentioning the petition before the Bench, Attorney-General Soli J. Sorabjee said even request for time by the special prosecutor to read the voluminous papers of the case was refused by the Bench. The AG wondered “whether the proceedings could be termed a farce or a tragedy”.

Mr Sorabjee, along with advocate Maninder Singh submitted that, “It is expedient in the interest of justice that these appeals are directed to be transferred from Madras High Court to any other high court .... especially in view of the fact that the appellant in the appeal is the Chief Minister of the state.”