Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has been sentenced to four years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case.

Judge John Michael Cunha pronounced the verdict.

Jayalalithaa has been convicted under Section 13(2) and 13(1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The conviction will lead to her immediate disqualification as an MLA and subsequent stepping down as Chief Minister.

Jayalalitha's aide Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran, and J Ilavarasi have also been convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Judge John Michael Cunha has also sentenced Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s aides - V K Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran, and J Ilavarasi to 4 years and fine of Rs 12 crore.

All have been convicted under Section 13(2) and 13(1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

PTI adds: The Rs 66.65-crore assets case dates back to Jayalalithaa’s first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996. It was filed before a special court in Chennai in 1997 by Tamil Nadu’s Department of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC).

The case was transferred to Bangalore’s Special Court in 2003 by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by DMK leader K Anbazhagan, who had expressed doubts over the conduct of a fair trial with Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister.

Security measures

Police are closely checking vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration at the check post at Attibeli on the border.

AIADMK supporters had gathered at the border but were stopped by police, who have been deployed in strength.

Platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, the city Armed Reserve and the Rapid Action Force are stationed near the court, besides hundreds of police personnel, including those in plain clothes, police said.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in and around the Parappana Agrahara prison complex.

Jayalalithaa, who has waged many legal battles and seen several ups and downs in her political career, had to quit as the Chief Minister immediately after her swearing in 2001 following the Supreme Court declaring null and void the action of the then Governor, Fatima Beevi, appointing her as Chief Minister as she had been sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment in a corruption case.

O Paneerselvan, a junior Minister in her Council of Ministers, was appointed Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. By 2002, she was cleared of all charges and sworn in again as the Chief Minister.

Related Topics