Karti IT tax evasion case: Madras HC extends interim stay on framing of charges

When the petitions filed by the couple came up for hearing, Justice M Sundar, who had granted an interim stay on Jan 21, gave a further extension till Feb 25 after hearing detailed arguments.

In their pleas, they sought a direction to stall the proceedings against the Special Court trying cases against elected MLAs and MPs, which was earlier scheduled to frame charges against them on Jan 21.

Special Court Judge D Lingeswaran had on January even dismissed their discharge petitions observing that there were adequate grounds to presume the accused has committed offences while finding merit in the evidence submitted by the prosecution.

Rejecting the plea of the accused that hard drives could not be admitted as evidence, the Judge said it was clear that the hard drives in question were seized from Chess Global Advisory Services and were sealed properly and hence they were under custody.

The Judge also directed the prosecution to go ahead with the framing of charges as on Jan 21 and said if both the accused were not present on that day, warrants would be issued against them, following which Karti and his wife filed an appeal in the High Court against the Special Court order, which has granted an interim stay.