Jayalalithaa gets bail from Supreme Court in corruption case

Three aides, who were imprisoned along with her, were also given bail.

In a major relief to AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court on Friday granted her bail in a disproportionate assets case in which she had been sentenced to a four-year jail term and a Rs 100 crore fine.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu stayed the sentence, but warned Jayalalithaa against causing any delay by seeking adjournment in her appeal in Karnataka High Court. 

 

Three aides - Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi - who were imprisoned along with her, were also given bail.

 

The development comes on the foundation day of the ruling AIADMK.

Jayalalithaa pleaded that she be granted relief as she was suffering from various ailments, reports said. The former chief minister also told the apex court to consider her status as a senior citizen in her bail plea.

 

The bench directed Jayalalithaa to file paperbook of her appeal in the high court within two months. "If paperbook is not filed within two months, then we won't give you even a single day more," the bench said. 

 

The apex court refused to dispose of the bail plea and posted the case for hearing on December 18 to ensure that Jayalalithaa complies with its order. It added that it would ask the High Court to dispose of her appeal within three months. 

 

The AIADMK head, who was denied bail by the Karnataka High Court following her conviction in the graft case, had moved the Supreme Court for bail on October 9.

 

She has been in Bangalore Central Jail since September 27.

 

In the state capital of Chennai, AIADMK cadres erupted in joy on hearing the news and gathered outside both Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence and the party headquarters

 

The Supreme Court, though, has asked Jayalalithaa to direct her party workers not to create any law and order problem in Tamil Nadu. 

 

The apex court's order is expected to reach the jail authorities by afternoon, which means the AIADM supremo -- often called Puratchi Thalaiva, or Revolutionary Leader -- could walk out of jail as early as this evening.
 

The Special Court had held Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of corruption. The court had also fined the AIADMK chief Rs 100 crore and each of her co-accused Rs 10 crore. 

Jaya gets bail, supporters celebrate