Special Judge P Anbazhagan's move to send former AIADMK minister Mohammed Asif, who was brought to the court premises on a stretcher and was being administered saline drip and oxygen, to the general hospital today was vigorously protested by defence lawyers.

A two-member team comprising Dr S D Jayaraj, head of the hospital's cardiology department and Dr T Muniswamy, professor of medicine in the hospital, who examined Asif in the court complex on the judge's direction, informed Anbazhagan that the the former minister's blood pressure and pulse were normal. ``If the patient is not willing to cooperate you cannot put it down to his cardiac condition,'' they said.

The judge posted the proceedings for June 3 and directed Asif topresent himself in the general hospital on June 2 for a check up by a team of doctors, including a cardiac specialist from the railway hospital.

Former chief minister Jayalalitha, the prime accused, who was present in the court, suffered a bout of sneezing and coughing lasting over 50 minutes, while the judge contemplated sending Asif to the general hospital for treatment.

A former AIADMK minister C P Pattabiraman, who was present in court, requested the court to permit Jaya, whose presence was no longer necessary, to leave in in view of her condition.

Besides Jayalalitha and Asif, others arraigned in the case are the AIADMK leader's close friend Sasikala, then managing director of Tansi T R Srinivasan, a Deputy Collector (Stamps) Nagaragan and an IAS officer Karpoorasundara Pandian, a secretary in Jayalalitha's office while she was the chief minister. Except Asif, others were present in the court.

The case pertains to purchase of land and buildings of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation(TANSI) far below the then prevailing rates by `Jaya publications', a firm in which Jayalalitha and Sasikala were partners, and evasion of stamp duty and registration charges during the AIADMK leader's chief ministership of the state between 1991 and 1996.

As soon as the judge made his intention clear to refer Asif to the general hospital, defence lawyer N Jothi protested saying that family members of Asif were against it.

``We have our own suspicions about sending him there as it is a state government hospital and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said he intends to speed up trial in corruption cases (before the special judges). So we do no have any faith in the hospital.''

Jothi said past experience also made them apprehensive of safety to Asif's Life if he was sent to the government hospital.