CHENNAI, NOV 7: The prosecution is likely to dispense with the examination of over 600 witnesses in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate wealth case involving former chief minister J Jayalalitha.This might pave the way for completing the prosecution proceedings sooner than expected as the DVAC has listed a mind-boggling 1,080 plus persons as witnesses in its charge-sheet filed in June 1997.It is reliably learnt that for the present the prosecution plans to restrict itself to producing around 450 witnesses in special court-I to give details about the numerous transactions made by the accused during the AIADMK regime. The list may go down by another 100 once the prosecution gains confidence in the course of proceedings that its case against the AIADMK general secretary and others has been strengthened on all legal fronts.The decision, however, is not a sign of any undue haste shown by the State Government to finish the politically sensitive case at the earliest, sources said.The intention is only todispense with witnesses who are going to corroborate evidence given by their counterparts to avoid over-lapping and save the ``court's time.'' The case relates to the purchase of several movable and immovable properties by Jayalalitha, her confidante Sasikala Natarajan, disowned foster son V N Sudhagaran and his relative Ilavarasi. Since, these properties are either located or have their origin in various parts of Tamil Nadu and outside all the persons involved in finalising the transaction were cited as witness.For instance, to prove the purchase of a house or building, the DVAC cited the broker, real estate agent, power of attorney, the owner and sub-registrar as witnesses. Similarly in the case of vehicles the agent, seller and the respective RTOs were named. Therefore, it is felt that it is enough to elicit information from one of these persons. Additional witnesses may be called only if the first person turns hostile or disputes a transaction.The prosecution's restrictive examination was noticedin the last hearing when it examined just two witnesses including a British national regarding the over 800 acre Kodanadu tea estate purchased by Sasikala and others. But in the DVAC's list the foreigner's father and other family members were named.Legal officers said that the decision is in tune with the provisions governing the special courts which provide for a speedy trial. Moreover, the case has already been dragged due to various litigations initiated by the accused and trial commenced only on December 28, 1998. ``We want to finish our part by June next to avoid troubling the VVIP accused with court room battles,'' an officer quipped.A similar strategy might be applied in the two TANSI cases involving Jaya Publications and Sasi Enterprises which have been unusually protracted in the last three years. At least 15 to 20 witnesses might be dropped from the 56 persons listed in Jaya Publications and 58 cited in Sasi Enterprises case.
