Supreme Court grants bail to Jayalalithaa, suspends her sentence

The top court also suspended the four-year jail sentence given to AIADMK chief by Bangalore sessions regarding disproportionate assets (DA) case in September.

The former Tamil Nadu chief minister has been in a Bangalore jail for almost three weeks since the verdict. 

She was represented in the apex court by Constitutional expert Fali Nariman.

The 66-year-old had sought bail on account of her age and health.

She said she suffers from diabetes, hypertension, cellulitis and other ailments. Earlier, on Oct 7, her bail petition was quashed by Karnataka High Court.

Jayalalithaa, three were convicted in the 18 year-old corruption case by a special court in Bangalore.

The case was filed in 1996 by Subramanian Swamy, now a BJP leader.

It was argued in the court that she had amassed property worth Rs. 66.65 crores - including 30 kg of gold, 12,000 saris and 2000 acres of land- despite not taking any salary as chief minister.

In reply, Jayalalithaa has said that she acquired her property and other assets through legal means, which was quashed by the special court.

The case against her was transferred in 2001 from Tamil Nadu to neighbouring Karnataka on the orders the Supreme Court.

On September 27, the special court convicted Jayalalithaa after finding her guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income during her first tenure as chief minister from 1991 to 1996.

The court sentenced her to four years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs. 100 crore.

Her friend Sasikala Natarajan and two others were also given jail terms.

Following her conviction, Jayalalithaa was disqualified as a legislator in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling and had to step down as TN’s Chief Minister.

Her loyalist O Panneerselvam took over as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Now that her sentence is suspended, Jayalalithaa can reclaim her CM’s post.

Apart she will also be able to contest in the state Assembly elections in 2016.