In the midst of AIADMK power struggle, Jayalalithaa's Siruthavur bungalow catches fire

At a time when a biter power struggle continues to mar the Tamil Nadu's ruling party AIADMK, a massive fire engulfed the former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's bungalow in Siruthavur.

The cause of the fire, which was first reported by Times Now, is not known yet. Fire brigade teams have reached the site to douse the fire.

Fire at #Jayalalithaa 's Siruthavur Bunglow. pic.twitter.com/Bm4S17Awdx

— Vinoth Kumar (@Vinothhcj) April 19, 2017

No loss of property and live have been reported yet. Sirvathavur is located in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary TTV Dinakaran appeared before the Economic Offences Court in the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) case registered against him.

The Egmore Magistrate Court headed by Judge Malarmathi had on April 13 ordered Dinakaran to appear for questions in connection with the same case on April 18 and 19.

Earlier in the week, the Madras High Court refused to defer Dinakaran's trial in a money laundering-cum-foreign exchange violation case till April 12.

Justice R. Mahadevan said that the court was neither staying nor deferring the trial against Dinakaran in the Economic Offences Court-II.

Justice Mahadevan agreed with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel's submission that in the absence of an interim stay, the lower court was free to go ahead with Dinakaran's trial on April 10.

The judge denied reprieve to Dinakaran while hearing his petition against the court's order which had refused to defer his trial by six weeks. 

With ANI Inputs