The former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and her close associate, Sasikala, have paid nearly Rs. 2 crore in compounding fee to the Income Tax Department in the four cases filed against them for non-filing of returns.

The department has not passed the final order on the compounding applications yet. Following the payment, the criminal proceedings in the four cases pending before a metropolitan magistrate court here for the past 18 years is likely to be withdrawn.

Two cases pertained to non-filing of personal income tax returns against Ms. Jayalalithaa and Ms. Sasikala for the assessment year 1993-94.

The other were for non-filing of returns as partners of Sasi Enterprises for the assessment years 1991-92 and 1992-1993.

As the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Economic Offences-I, R. Dakshinamoorthy, was on OD (other duty) on Monday, the cases came up before the III Additional Sessions Judge, A. Kayalvizhi, who was the in-charge judge.

Counsel S. Senthil and A. Asokan filed petitions that said the Regional Compounding Committee, at a meeting on November 26, decided to accept the request of Ms. Jayalalithaa and Ms. Sasikala for compounding the offences. Following this, Rs.1,99,93,061 was remitted to the department on November 27.

Until the department passed the final order on the compounding application, further proceedings before the court might be adjourned by two weeks.

The Senior Special Public Prosecutor for Income Tax cases, K. Ramasamy, said the department had no objection to adjourning the cases for two weeks.

The judge adjourned the case to December 11.