Swamy not allowed to help SPP

BENGALURU: The high court on Thursday disposed of the two interlocutory applications filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and DMK's K Anbazhagan in relation to the criminal appeals by Jayalalithaa and others. They had challenged their conviction in the multi-crore disproportionate assets case.
While the court permitted Swamy to assist the special public prosecutor on the strength of him being the original complainant, Anbazhagan's request to treat him as an intervener was rejected.
The judge, Justice C R Kumaraswamy, noted that allowing third persons to intervene would possibly have an adverse impact on the proceedings. Swamy had sought permission to address arguments independently on the stre8ngth of being the original complainant. Anbazhagan had sought permission to assist the special public prosecutor, as he'd done during the trial before the special court.
Prosecuting agency DVAC had opposed Anbazhagan's application. It said that compared to Anbazhagan, Swamy stands on a better footing as he was the original complainant. However, counsel for Jayalalithaa and others opposed both the applications.