Jaya gets bail from SC

Jaya gets bail from SC
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Highlights

In an obvious pre-Diwali gift, the Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and three of her co-accused in the disproportionate case.

Court stays verdict that includes 4-yr jail and Rs.100-cr fine

  • SC asks her to file appeal in K’taka HC latest by December 18
  • Makes it clear the bail will not be extended even by a day
  • SC will also direct the HC to decide the case in 3 months
  • Jaya agrees to all, to confine to house during bail period
  • To be released from jail today

JayalalithaaNew Delhi: In an obvious pre-Diwali gift, the Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and three of her co-accused in the disproportionate case. The matter was heard in the court of Chief Justice H L Dattu, which stipulated a few conditions while releasing the 66-year-old AIADMK supremo on bail and staying the sentence that includes a four year jail term and a fine of Rs 100 crore.

Constitutional expert Fali S Nariman, appearing for her, accepted the conditions. These include an undertaking that her appeals (running into about 35,000 pages) would be filed before the Karnataka High Court latest by December 18, and the bail would not be extended beyond a day after this deadline. Then the apex court would be directing the Karnataka High Court to decide the matter within three months.

The former Chief Minister who had sought bail on the grounds of her ill-health and medical complications gave an undertaking that she would remain confined to her residence during the bail period.

The apex court also directed her to ensure that her supporters do not disrupt the law and order situation or create disturbances. This directive came at the request of BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy, the original petitioner in the case, who is the target of the ire of the AIADMK supporters.

Jayalalithaa has been lodged in a Bangalore jail since her conviction in a disproportionate case relating to the period 1991-96 during which she was charged with having accumulated Rs 66 crore. The case ran for 18 years, and had been shifted from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka in the ‘interest of justice’. After her conviction and sentencing for four years and a fine of Rs 100 crore, the Karnataka High Court rejected her plea for bail, and after that she had decided to move the apex court.

The case could set a benchmark for politicians facing corruption charges, and could set precedents that would have far-reaching impact on the fate of others facing similar cases, like Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati.

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