Wednesday, July 5 2006 12:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: An Economic Offences court here today (July 5, 2006) adjourned to July 26 four income tax cases against AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and her close friend Sasikala Natarajan.

When the matter came up for hearing, Jayalalithaa's counsel N Jothi informed the court that the former Chief Minister was appealing in the Madras High Court against the dismissal of her discharge petitions by the Additional Chief Metrpolitan Magistrate (ACMM) on June 14.

Following this the ACMM J V Raj adjourned the case.

On June 14, the ACMM declined to discharge the petitions of Jayalithaa and Sasikala who have been charged in four Income Tax-related cases holding that there were 'prima facie sufficient grounds' for proceeding against them.

The Magistrate held that the petitioners have willfully failed to furnish the returns till date.

The cases relate to their alleged failure to file income tax returns as individuals for the assessment year 1993-94 and as partners in Sasi Enterprises for assessment years 1991-92 and 1992-93.