2G PMLA case: Dayalu Ammal exempted from personal appearance on day of charge

NEW DELHI: DMK Supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal was today exempted from personal appearance even on the date of framing of charges in a 2G spectrum scam related money laundering case by a special court which allowed her lawyer to sign charge documents on her behalf.

The court made a departure from the established procedure that warrants physical presence of an accused before it at the time of framing of charges for admission of the alleged offence or the denial for claiming trial on the ground of innocence.

Considering the age-related ailments of 82-year-old Ammal that has rendered her immobile, Special CBI Judge O P Saini allowed her counsel's plea to sign the charge papers on her behalf with a condition that she will "not dispute any steps taken by her counsel" in the proceedings and shall not claim any prejudice at any stage of the trial and thereafter.

"After giving my thoughtful consideration to the matter, I deem it proper to allow her prayer and get her plead to the charge through alternative means.

"In my view, it would be proper if her duly authorised advocate is made to sign the charge subject to the condition that she would not dispute any steps taken by him in the proceedings and shall not claim any prejudice at any stage of the trial or before superior courts.

"Accordingly, her advocate Sudarshan Rajan, whose Vakalatnama is on record and who has been consistently appearing in the court, is allowed on her behalf to plead to the charge," the judge said.

The court noted that Ammal, who has claimed that she is confined to her bed in her Chennai home, was also a witness in the trial of scheduled offences in which former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 15 others have been made accused by CBI.

It said in that case also, similar submissions were made by Ammal's counsel and ultimately the Supreme Court had directed that in view of her sickness, she may be examined by a commission at her residence.