Jayalalithaa in jail: What happened next?

The much-awaited verdict in the case of disproportionate assets against Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa was pronounced by a special court in Bengaluru on Saturday.

While Jayalalithaa has been fined a whopping Rs. 100 crores, the three other accused have been slapped a fine of Rs. 10 crores each.

A large posse of policemen deployed near the central prison, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, caned scores of AIADMK workers who tried to break the security cordon and rush towards the special court in the morning.

Tension was palpable on Karnataka’s border with Tamil Nadu with some AIADMK workers trying to set fire to vehicles at Athibele, a village on the state’s border with that state, soon after announcement of the judgement.

Supporters of AIADMK burn the effigy of DMK chief M Karunanidhi after a Bangalore Special Court pronounced Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa guilty in a disproportionate assets case, in Chennai on Saturday.

Members of AIADMK stomp on a poster of DMK chief K Karunanidhi during a protest following a Bangalore Special Court pronouncing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa guilty in a disproportionate assets case, in Coimbatore.

Angry AIADMK workers forced shops to down shutters across the state, set a government bus on fire in Kancheepuram, pelted stones at vehicles and blocked roads.

“Jaya seems to be depressed after the verdict and she is not talking to anyone. She is not even speaking to her close aides Sasikala and Ilavarasi,” a jail official said.

There were self-immolation attempts in some parts of the state including two incidents in Chennai. The peak hour rush on city roads was missing since the afternoon as people preferred to remain indoors.

AIADMK cadres allegedly attacked mediapersons who had gathered in front of Jayalalithaa’s residence.

AIADMK cadres burnt effigies of Dr Subramaniam Swamy, who first moved the court seeking a probe against Jayalalithaa’s disproportionate assets, and DMK leader Karunanidhi.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) suspended all its services to Tamil Nadu by terminating them near the border. The decision was taken following fear of attack on buses.

Special judge John Michael D'Cunha also sentenced the three other accused, including close friend Sasikala Natarajan, Sasikala’s niece Ilavarasi and nephew Sudhakaran, who is the ‘disowned’ foster son of Jayalalithaa in this case, initiated by Dr Subramanian Swamy and actively pursued by the rival DMK party since 1996.

Some AIADMK workers attempted self-immolation in front of Jayalalithaa’s residence in Poes Garden, Teynampet and Virugambakkam. Similar incidents were also reported from Tirupur and Coimbatore as well.

The allegation is that Jayalalithaa had amassed wealth valued at about Rs.66.65 crore in her name and in the names of the three others, which was disproportionate to her known source of income.

The state administration has come under the control of chief secretary Mohan Verghese Chunkath, who would report to state Governor K. Rosaiah. Jayalalithaa also stands disqualified as MLA.