Jaya completes deposition in assets case

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Winding up her deposition before a special court here, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday maintained the disproportionate asset case against her was 'politically motivated' and 'fabricated' at the instance of her rival DMK.

Appearing for the fourth time since last month before special judge B. M. Mallikarjunaiah in the 15-year-old case, she completed answering 1,339 questions framed by the judge, who recorded her statement in the closed door hearing held at the high-security makeshift court hall at Parapana Agrahara on the city outskirts.

Jayalalithaa, who had replied to 580 questions on Tuesday, fielded the remaining 192 on Wednesday, special public prosecutor B. V. Acharya told reporters after the more than three-hour-long proceedings.

"With today's deposition she has answered all the 1,339 questions which were framed by the court under section 313 of CrPC (relating to recording of statement)," he said.

The AIADMK supremo had appeared before the court on October 20 and 21 when she replied to about 571 questions.

She deposed in the court yesterday for the third time after Supreme Court rejected her plea for exemption from personal appearance and seeking permission to submit written answers.

Apparently relieved at the completion of the deposition, Jayalalithaa who emerged out of the court greeted the onlookers with folded hands and sporting a smile as she drove to the airport en route to Chennai.

During Wednesday's proceedings, Jayalalithaa also filed 'a very detailed' statement along with several documents in addition to her deposition, he said adding in her statement she had asserted the case was fabricated at the instance of DMK which was in power in 1997.

"Therefore it is a politically motivated case." Acharya said the court adjourned the next hearing in the case to November 29 when it will record the statements of the other three accused including Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala, at the regular special court in the city.