SC declines urgent hearing of plea against Sasikala

The Supreme Court on Friday declined an urgent hearing of a plea seeking direction against AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala being sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

A bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said "sorry declined" as the petitioner urged the bench to accord the plea an urgent hearing.

The petitioner contended that Sasikala should not be sworn-in as the verdict on Karnataka government's plea challenging her acquittal in a disproportionate assets case was awaited.

The top court is expected to pronounce its verdict on the Karnataka government's appeal next week.

The Karnataka government has challenged a May 11, 2015 Karnataka High Court order acquitting late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithha, Sasikala and her two relatives V.N. Sudhakaran and Elavarasi for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's first term as Chief Minister (1991-1996).

The verdict on the Karnataka government's plea was reserved on June 7, 2016.

The high court by its verdict had reversed a September 27, 2014 trial court judgement which had sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in jail and imposed a Rs 100 crore fine after a trial that lasted for 18 years.

Sasikala, who was elected General Secretary of AIADMK following the death of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, was elected leader of the legislature party on February 5.

--IANS

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