Jayalalithaa, who flew back to Chennai on Thursday after her statement was recorded, returned here this morning to appear before the makeshift court at Parappana Agrahara central jail premises on the city outskirts. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister answered 379 questions yesterday and would have to face as many today also. Her statement is being recorded before special court judge B M Mallikarjunaiah in closed door hearing amidst tight security for the court premises and areas in its vicinity.
Thursday`s appearance by Jayalalithaa in the 15-year-old case was the first since the trial was transferred to Bangalore in 2003 by the Supreme Court on a petition by DMK, that a fair trial was not possible in Chennai during her tenure as Chief Minister then. The Supreme Court had on Wednesday rejected her plea for postponing the hearing against her by a few days and asked her to appear before the special court.
With Jayalalithaa enjoying `Z plus` category security, policemen have been deployed in good strength.