CHENNAI: In a repreive to ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala , the Madras high court on Monday set aside a trial court order, directing Karnataka prison authorities to produce her before court in connection with a case under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.Justice N Anand Venkatesh passed the order while allowing a plea moved by Sasikala challenging the order dated November 20 passed by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate court for economic offences cases here.The issue pertains to payments made in US and Singapore dollars to foreign firms for hiring transponders and uplink facilities for Jaya TV during 1995-96.In July 2017, the court permitted Sasikala to appear through video conferencing from Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru and heard her submissions on the charges framed.On November 20, noting that her personal appearance is required to sign the documents and complete other procedures pertaining to framing of charges, the court directed authorities to produce her.Challenging the order Sasikala approached the high court claiming that while her submissions regarding framing of charges were already recorded through video conferencing, her further appearence is unnecessary.She further pointed out in her earlier affidavit that she would not claim in any way that she was prejudiced on account of video conferencing which is still on record.Counsel for Sasikala contended that no provision of law requires signature of the accused while reading the charges.She further submitted that the magistrate has passed the order despite the fact that the high court has already set aside such orders passed against the other accused in the case.Concurring with the submissions, the judge set aside the order and directed the trial to proceed the hearing through video conferencing.

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