Jaya Gets 4-year Jail Term BANGALORE, SEP 27 (AGENCIES/IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was late Saturday sent to the Bangalore Central Jail after being sentenced to four years in prison and fined Rs.100 crore for corruption, dealing a huge blow to the charismatic former actor who had dreams of becoming the prime minister ahead of this year’s Lok Sabha election. The 66-year-old stands disqualified as a member of the Tamil Nadu legislature and can’t contest elections for a decade -- decisions that are bound to impact both the state and national politics. Pronouncing his verdict on a legal battle that began in 1996, judge John Michael Cunha held Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income. The other three are V.K. Sasikala, a long-time associate, now disowned foster son V.N. Sudhakaran and J. Illavarasi, a former aide. All three were also sentenced to four years in prison and fined Rs.10 crore each. The convictions came under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. As news of the conviction became known, Jayalalithaa supporters who had massed here in large numbers clashed with police near the prison and were taken into custody. The reaction was more violent in Tamil Nadu, where AIADMK activists took to the streets, resorted to stone-pelting and torching of public property, attack on mediapersons and forceful closure of shops across Tamil Nadu. Frenzied supporters also made a bonfire of pictures of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi whose party filed the case against Jayalalithaa in 1996 accusing her of amassing illegally earned wealth. The case took several twists with the special court moving from Chennai to Bangalore. After the sentencing, a downcast Jayalalithaa sought special medical treatment citing her age and diabetic condition. “The court considered the plea and directed the jail superintendent to ensure medical treatment,” said special public prosecutor Bhavani Singh. “The prosecution proved that the main accused (Jayalalithaa) had amassed disproportionate assets, which were valued at Rs.53 crore when she was the chief minister. We have done our job and the law has taken its course,” he told the media. Singh said the fine can be recovered from the properties seized from her residence and lands she acquired as chief minister in 1991-96. “Considering the long time (18 years) the case has taken for trial and conviction, and keeping in view the inflationary hike, the court has decided to impose the fine which can be recovered from the sale of assets under its custody.” Saturday’s development will leave the AIADMK rudderless in Tamil Nadu, where Jayalalithaa led it to a sweeping win in the Lok Sabha, bagging 37 of the state’s 39 seats in May. As of today, she won’t be able to return to office in the next two assembly elections -- in 2016 and 2021. Transferring the case to Karnataka, an apex court bench, comprising Justice SN Variava and Justice H.K. Sema in its judgement on November 18, 2003 observed: “It does appear that the new public prosecutor (appointed by the AIADMK Government) is hand in glove with the accused thereby creating a reasonable apprehension of likelihood of failure of justice in the minds of the public at large. There is strong indication that the process of justice is being subverted. Free and fair trial is sine qua non of Article 21 of the Constitution.” Amid attacks on DMK offices and leaders by AIADMK supporters, Karunanidhi frantically appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee, Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh to restore law and order in the state. Bhavani Singh said a bail application cannot be moved if the jail term exceeds three years. “As Jayalalithaa has been convicted and sentenced, she automatically loses her membership in the Tamil Nadu assembly and thus has to step down from the chief minister’s post,” government counsel B.T. Venkatesh told IANS. Jayalalithaa can, however, move the high court in Karnataka or Tamil Nadu seeking suspension of the sentence. Swamy’s role It was none other than BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who shattered Tamil Nadu politics with his one move. Swamy, the then Janata Party leader, was the first person who had filed the case against Jayalalithaa in 1996. Following the complaint, a court in Chennai framed charges against Jayalalithaa, her foster son Sudhakaran, her friend Sasikala and Sasikala’s sister-in-law Illarasi. Ahead of the crucial verdict, Swamy had asserted, “I think it is very difficult for her to escape it as the facts are very clear. It is an open and shut case. She is likely to be convicted and ceased to be chief minister.” However, after the judgement, Swamy was quoted as saying, “I am not concerned if Jayalalithaa goes to jail or not, it’s that she was holding a high position.”
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:10:07 +0000
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