SC extends Jaya bail

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday extended the bail of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa till the Karnataka High Court disposed of her appeal against her conviction and sentencing in a disproportionate assets case by the special court.

Others whose bail has also been extended are Jayalalithaa's aides N. Sasikala, V.N. Sudhakaran, and J Elasvarasi.

The apex court on December 18, 2014 had extended their bail by four months with a direction to High court to hear their appeal and pronounce verdict by April 17.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra also extended till May 12 the time for the high court to pronounce its verdict on Jayalalithaa's appeal, which was coming to an end on Friday.

The court extended the time after a senior counsel T.R. Andhyarujina told the court that after the split verdict on the DMK leader K. Anbazhagan plea, challenging the appointment of G. Bhavani Singh as special public prosecutor by the Tamil Nadu government in the hearing of the appeal by Jayalalithaa by the high court, it is now to be decided by a three-judge bench of the apex court.

It was hoped that the three-judge bench, which is yet to take up the matter, may complete the hearing and decide the matter before May 12.