DA Case: SC grants interim bail to Jayalalithaa on medical grounds

The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on medical grounds. She was languishing in jail for the past 20 days after being held guilty in a disproportionate assets case.

Jayalalithaa's supporters erupted in joy and celebrated the news of her eminent release.

"The court has given her bail on medical grounds. She is not supposed to go out of her house or receive any visitors. Jayalalithaa's lawyer has also assured court she will write a letter to her party workers and appeal for no use of violence in Tamil Nadu," said lawyer and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

"The issue on which the bail was considered today by the Supreme Court was the fact that the Karnataka High Court has not yet decided on whether the sentence in the case should be suspended or not. On the same basis, they have asked Jayalalithaa to compile all the appeals regarding the case and present it to the court by December 18, failing which her bail will be cancelled," he said.

"Her lawyer has also assured the court that he will ask Jayalalithaa to instruct her party people to behave like citizens. Also, during this tenure, if I report any form of attack on me or any other relevant person, the court might cancel her bail," he added.

Jayalalithaa, who was denied bail by the Karnataka High Court following her conviction and a four-year sentence in the graft case, had moved the Supreme Court for bail on October 9.

The AIADMK chief had challenged the Karnataka High Court's decision to deny her bail.

Jayalalithaa had pleaded that she be given immediate relief as she was suffering from various health-related ailments.

A petition has also been moved in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to shift Jayalalithaa from Bangalore to the Chennai Central Prison.