HC allows EPS & Sasi to be grilled in Kodanad case

IN a significant order in the 2017 Kodanad heist-cum-murder case, which may have political ramifications, the Madras High Court has permitted examination of former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, VK Sasikala, former close aide of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and six others as defence witnesses in the trial court as they are familiar with the Kodanad bungalow and their examination is vital for bringing out the truth.

- R Sivakumar

Justice P Velmurugan, who passed the order by allowing revision petitions filed by three accused persons in the case, also allowed examination of two of Sasikala's close relatives—Ilavarasi and VN Sudhakaran—then Nilgiris district collector P Shankar, then SP Murali Rambah, and two local AIADMK functionaries, Sajeevan and Sunil. The accused persons, D Dheebu, MS Satheesan and A Santhosh Sami, filed the revision petition challenging the April 30, 2021, order of the Nilgiris principal sessions court.