The Karnataka government had challenged the May 11, 2015, state High Court verdict acquitting Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives – V.N. Sudhakaran and Elavarasi – for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.
The bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy would pronounce the verdict that was reserved on June 7, 2016. The High Court’s acquittal verdict had come on May 11, 2015.
The High Court, while acquitting the four, had reversed the trial court judgment convicting them on September 27, 2014.
The Bengaluru trial court had sentenced the late leader to four years in jail and imposed Rs 100 crore fine in the disproportionate assets case. The trial lasted for 18 years.
Meanwhile, acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneeerselvam and AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala remained on the warpath amid speculation they will be told to prove their strength in the assembly.
“We have the strength to manage any number of enemies,” a defiant Sasikala, a long-time confidante of the late J. Jayalalithaa, told AIADMK supporters at the former Chief Minister’s Poes Garden residence.
Her comments came a day before the Supreme Court was set to pronounce its verdict in a case of holding disproportionate assets against Sasikala. If she is convicted, her hopes of becoming the Chief Minister will be dashed.
The case was filed by the Karnataka government challenging the acquittal of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and two Sasikala relatives by the Karnataka High Court.
While the Panneerselvam camp continued to assert that most AIADMK MLAs were held captive by Sasikala at a resort, government counsel told the Madras High Court that the legislators were not illegally detained.
After a week’s gap, Panneerselvam attended office on Monday. He announced Rs 300,000 to the family of a murdered girl.
Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi has reportedly told Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao to call a special session of the assembly and ask Panneerselvam and Sasikala to prove their majority.
According to his supporters, Panneerselvam is expected to discuss with officials the issue of alleged confinement of AIADMK legislators.
An AIADMK leader said on condition of anonymity that they had proof that some legislators were being forced to stay at the resort, about 90 km from here.
Panneerselvam did not attend office since he revolted against Sasikala on February 7, alleging his resignation was forced. He quit on February 5, paving the way for Sasikala to become the Chief Minister.
The government posted S. Davidson Devasirvatham as the Inspector General of Police in charge of Intelligence in place of K.N. Sathiyamurthy.
For the third day running, Sasikala went to meet legislators backing her at the beach resort. Earlier, she told hundreds of supporters in Chennai that the Chief Minister’s post was not important for her.
She reiterated that it was she who pressed Panneerselvam to become the Chief Minister after Jayalalithaa died on December 5. She claimed Panneerselvam wanted her to take charge of the state but she told him that it was important at that time for her to be with the body of Jayalalithaa.
“With the party having a cadre strength of 1.5 crore, no ‘komban’ (person with great skills) can break the AIADMK,” she told the cheering crowd. “The party cadres are with me,” she added to applause. “As long as the cadres are with me and with Amma’s blessings, an AIADMK government will be in place.”
AIADMK spokesperson Vaigail Selvan alleged that the BJP and DMK were exerting pressure to delay the swearing in of Sasikala.
Sasikala supporters went to the AIADMK headquarters in large numbers probably to thwart any takeover by the Panneerselvam camp.
Jaya TV is under Sasikala’s control and beams her speeches. The AIADMK website and Twitter account too are with her.
Ten of the Lok Sabha and two of the Rajya Sabha members of the AIADMK as well as six of the 135 MLAs are siding with Panneerselvam.
The other MLAs are reportedly with Sasikala, who has sought to meet the Governor again to stake claim to form a government.
Panneerselvam is expected to discuss with senior officials the issue of alleged confinement of AIADMK legislators by Sasikala.
Not wanting to be quoted, a AIADMK leader said that they have “proof” that some of the legislators were being forced to stay at the beach resort, around 90 km from Chennai, near Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram.
According to him, the issue of keeping the legislators in the beach resort since last week has also been taken up with Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao. He refused to elaborate.
On Sunday, AIADMK’s Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan, who is part of the Panneerselvam camp, met Rao for around 30 minutes.
Queried about the discussions with the Governor, Maitreyan said: “No comments.”
On Monday afternoon, Panneerselvam attended office after a week’s gap. On Sunday, he had told the media that he would be going to the State Secretariat.
School Education Minister K. Pandiarajan will also be attending office, the officials said.
Panneerselvam did not attend office ever since he revolted against Sasikala on February 7, alleging that his resignation had been forced.
He resigned on February 5 paving the way for Sasikala to become the Chief Minister.
In a statement issued on Monday, Panneerselvam said a sum of Rs 300,000 will be given as solatium to the family members of a young girl who was molested and murdered. Panneerselvam said the police have arrested the accused who is now behind bars.
Earlier, Sasikala said she was confident of victory and that peaceful protests would continue for the formation of the next Tamil Nadu government under her.
Addressing hundreds of supporters outside the Poes Garden residence of the late J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala said that the Chief Minister’s post is not important for her and she never projected herself in the party.
She reiterated that it was she who pressed O. Panneerselvam to become the Chief Minister in December.
“After Jayalalithaa’s death, I told him to become the Chief Minister,” she said.
She claimed Panneerselvam wanted her to take charge of the state but she told him that it was important at that time for her to be with the body of Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5.
Sasikala told the cadres that they all know the manner in which Panneerselvam betrayed the party.
“I have been with Amma for 33 years and I am used to threats,” she said. “What is happening now is not new.”
“The party cadres are with me,” she added to applause. “As long as the cadres are with me and with Amma’s blessings, an AIADMK government will be in place.
“We have the strength to manage any number of enemies,” she added.
Sasikala said she was involved in electoral alliance with other parties on Jayalalithaa’s instruction.
According to Sasikala, it was she who comforted Jayalalithaa who decided to quit politics after the insult she faced at party founder M.G. Ramachandran’s (MGR) funeral years ago.
During MGR’s funeral, Jayalalithaa was pushed down from the vehicle carrying his body. (IANS)
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