Jaya's DA case: 3 judge bench to commence hearing from April 21

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today fixed April 21 for hearing by a three judge bench the issue of removal of a special public prosecutor in AIADMK Chief J Jayalalithaa's disproportionate assets case before the Karnataka High Court.

The decision to announce the setting of the new bench came a a day after the two judge bench of the apex court delivered a split verdict and referred it to Chief Justice H L Dattu to constitute a larger bench for an authoritative pronouncement.

Justice Madan B Lokur, heading the bench, allowed the plea of DMK leader K Anbazhagan seeking removal of Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Bhawani Singh and ordered a fresh hearing on the AIADMK chief's plea against her conviction saying the proceedings have been "vitiated".

However, Justice R Banumathi differed with Justice Lokur and held that the SPP was duly authorised to represent the state before the Karnataka High Court as well.

On October 17, last year the apex court had granted conditional bail to Jayalalithaa who was sent to jail by a trial court on September 27.