Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment and fine of Rs. 100 crore in the Rs. 66 crore disproportionate asset case in Bangalore on Saturday.
Special judge John Michale Cunha pronounced the sentence and the hefty fine on charges levelled against her by DMK General Secretary K. Anbazhagan in 1996.
Special Public Prosecutor G Bhavani Singh informed that Jayalalithaa and the three convicted persons were taken into judicial custody after the verdict and sent to a state-run hospital in the city for medical check-up. They will be lodged in Bangalore Central Jail. The fine will be recovered by attaching jewellery and other articles seized and kept in the court's custody.
Jayalalitha has to move bail application in the high court where she can also appeal to quash the special court order.
The verdict in the 18 year old disproportionate wealth case of AIADMK General Secretary Ms. Jayalalithaa has opened a political debate from various angles.
Ms. Jayalalithaa who has been the State’s Chief Minister for the third time, will have to step down from her post today.
Already the AIADMK enjoys a thumping majority in the State Assembly and also is the third largest party to have 37 Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha.
It also has won a majority in the local body elections held recently. It was very difficult for other parties to register their political presence in the state. This includes their arch rival the DMK, DMDK, MDMK, PMK and the BJP.
Tamilnadu Governor Dr. K. Rosaiah held a meeting with the Chief Secretary and other secretaries and police officials and has ordered them to uphold the law and order situation in the State.
In Chennai, malls, theatres and business establishments have been closed.
AIR Correspondent reports, after the verdict was pronounced that Ms.Jayalalithaa was found guilty, the AIADMK party workers started with burning of effigies, buses, blocking roads and rails all through the State.
Violence was reported from all the districts in the State. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s house was targeted in Chennai and Madurai.
DMK office at Coimbatore was ransacked and some stone pelting incidents were reported.
Bus transportation was stopped at many places and people remained stranded. Police claim that the situation is under control as uneasy calm prevailed in many places.
It would be very difficult to say who will be the successor of the 66 year old Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa.
A petition was filed by DMK leader K Anbazhagan, in which Swamy pleaded himself as an original complainant.
Swamy supported the transfer of cases out of Tamil Nadu to ensure a free and fair trial.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice S N Variava and Justice H K Sema transferred the case to Karnataka on November 18, 2003.
New guidelines for elected officials clearly state that Jayalalithaa will have to resign as Chief Minister immediately.
She will also have to resign as the Member of Legislative Assembly and will be barred from contesting elections for the next 10 years including the period of imprisonment of four years and six years thereafter.
