AMN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, who was acquitted in a disproportionate assets case by the Karnataka High Court. According to an AIADMK release said Mr. Modi spoke to Jayalalitha and extended his greetings.
Jayalalitha acquitted in disproportionate assets case
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha was today acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in the disproportionate assets case against her. The Court came to the conclusion that the percentage of assets amassed by her in relation to her known sources of income was merely 8.12 percent in excess and not as claimed by the prosecution.
The single judge bench of Justice C R Kumaraswamy delivered the judgement, just a day ahead of the three-month deadline set by the Supreme Court to complete the hearing on appeals by her and three others. The Verdict comes on the appeal filed by Ms. Jayalalitha and three others convicted in the case.
A trial court had on September 27 last year sentenced Jayalalitha her close aide Sasikala Natarajan, her niece Ilavarasi and her nephew and Jayalalitha’s disowned foster son Sudhakaran to four years in jail. The Court also imposed a hefty fine of Rs 100 crore on her and Rs 10 crore each on three others. Jayalalithaa had been charged with accumulating Rs 66.65 crore wealth disproportionate to known sources of her income during her first term from 1991-96 as Chief Minister.
Reacting to her acquittal, Jayalalithaa in a statement said that truth and justice have finally prevailed in the DA case. She thanked God and the people of Tamil Nadu.Ms Jayalalithaa said that the case was a conspiracy by DMK to destroy AIADMK.
Hectic political activities and massive celebrations broke out in Tamil Nadu soon after the judgement. Thousands of party workers celebrated the news by beating drums, distributing sweets, and bursting crackers at Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai. Chief Minister O Paneerselvam along with his cabinet colleagues and senior party leaders joined the celebrations. Later, they met Ms Jayalalithaa and discussed the next course of action. She also had series of meetings with senior government officials. The AIADMK legislators may meet on Wednesday in Chennai, to elect Ms Jayalalitaa as their leader. The party sources said that a formal announcement on the date of Ms Jayalalithaa’s return as Chief Minister will be announced soon. Party workers from across the state have already started arriving at Chennai, to witness the swearing in ceremony.