The Madras High Court on Monday adjourned to September 5 further hearing on the petition by Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case convict S Nalini, undergoing life term, seeking to quash charges framed against her for allegedly possessing a mobile phone.
Nalini, serving the life sentence in the Vellore Prison, in her petition has also made an interim prayer seeking a stay on cross-examination of witnesses in the case pending before a lower court.
When the matter came up for hearing before Justice P Devadoss, Public Prosecutor Shanmuga Velayudham submitted that the process of cross examination of witnesses had already commenced in the case before the Magistrate court in Vellore on August 30 and it had been adjourned to September 6.
Following the submission, the Judge adjourned the hearing on the petition to September 5.
On a complaint from the Prison Superintendent, a case has been registered against Nalini for allegedly keeping in her possession a cell phone, a prohibited article, preventing jail officials from discharging their duties and attempting to hide the phone. The trial in the case is on at the magistrate court in Vellore.
Nalini, in her petition, contended that she was already awarded with a "major punishment" for the above offences by way of downgrading the prisoner category for her from high to low.
Hence, she cannot be tried for the same offences by filing a case and the charges framed against her were without jurisdiction, Nalini contended and prayed to quash the same.