HC to hear Jayalalithaa's bail plea on Wednesday

The high court vacation bench had earlier adjourned the hearing to Oct 6

The Karnataka high court has advanced the date of hearing on the plea for bail and suspension of conviction in the disproportionate assets case of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to Wednesday from October 6. The vacation bench of the court, headed by Justice Rathnakala, will hear the case.

“I have received the official communication from the government of Tamil Nadu regarding my appointment as special public prosecutor in the case. I will file my objections,” Bhavani Singh, senior advocate, told Business Standard.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, the vacation bench admitted the revision petition and adjourned the hearing to October 6. The court adjourned the case due to confusion in the appointment of a public prosecutor. Appearing for Jayalalithaa, eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani argued bail could be granted to her, as the sentence was less than 10 years. Considering her medical condition, he pleaded for bail.

Special public prosecutor Bhavani Singh, who had appeared at the special court last week, said he had not received any formal communication regarding his appointment as public prosecutor from the Karnataka government. Following his submission, the judge said bail cannot be granted to Jayalalithaa without hearing the counter-arguments due to the absence of a public prosecutor and adjourned the case.

Jayalalithaa and three associates — Ilavarasi, Sasikala Natarajan and V N Sudhakaran — had moved the high court on Monday, seeking bail and suspension of the special court verdict, which convicted them in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case. They were sentenced to a four-year term.

While Jayalalithaa was fined Rs 100 crore, the other three were fined Rs 10 crore each. All four of them in the central jail in Parappana Agrahara since Saturday.