Jayalalithaa moves Karnataka High Court for bail

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore/Chennai, September 29, 2014: Lawyers for jailed AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa moved the Karnataka High Court for bail for her while they were also finalising a strategy for seeking a stay on her conviction and sentence in the disproportionate assets case.

But it may be taken up only on Tuesday when there is a scheduled hearing by a vacation bench because the high court will observe holidays from September 29 to October 6 for Dasara.

A battery of lawyers were giving final touches to their legal strategy in seeking immediate relief for Jayalalithaa, who has been convicted by Special Judge John Michael D’Cunha and sentenced to four years imprisonment in the Rs.66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

Since the sentencing was for a period more than three years, only the high court can grant bail in Jayalalithaa’s case.

Kumar said a team of lawyers were holding discussions on filing a petition seeking stay of conviction and also the sentence awarded to Jayalalithaa in the 18-year old case.

The criminal revision petition is one of the options before the lawyers who would like to secure an immediate stay on the conviction and the sentencing.

A stay on the conviction, which superior courts are said to be normally reluctant to grant in a corruption case, would nullify the disqualification as MLA which the AIADMK leader has suffered with judgement.

Unless the conviction is overturned by a superior court, Jayalalithaa runs the risk of being barred from contesting elections for 10 years -- four years when she is in jail and six years after release.

The Court also found guilty three others -- Jayalalithaa’s close associate Sasikala her relatives V N Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi, who were handed four year jail term and a fine of Rs.10 crore each.

The Rs.100 crore fine is the highest imposed on any politician by the special judge who heard the case of Rs.66.65 crore disproportionate assets acquired during Jayalalithaa’s first term as Chief Minister between 1991 and 1996.

Convicting her, special judge D’Cunha said the prosecution had proved beyond doubt that the accused had acquired assets worth Rs.53.64 crore unlawfully.

Jayalalithaa appealed for leniency from the judge claiming that the case against her was politically motivated.

She also sought leniency on the ground that she was suffering from illness and stress.


Courtesy: Indiatoday