Jayalalithaa moves HC against conviction, seeks bail

She has also appealed for quashing of her sentence by the trial court

Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, now in jail, on Monday moved the Karnataka High Court seeking suspension of her sentence by the trial court and bail in the disproportionate assets (DA) case.

The former CM of Tamil Nadu was sentenced to four years in jail and a fine of Rs 100 crore on Saturday by a special court here, in the Rs 66.65 crore DA case. She immediately ceased to be a member of the legislative Assembly, as well as chief minister.

A senior counsel for Jayalalithaa filed a set of four applications in the high court for early hearing, seeking suspension of the sentence, bail for release from jail, review of the fine (Rs 100 crore) and stay on conviction. Of the two interim petitions filed, one seeks stay on confiscation of properties seized in 1997 from Jayalalithaa’s residence in central Chennai by the Enforcement Directorate and which in the custody of the trial court here. The properties include 800 kg silver, 28 kg gold ornaments, 750 pairs of shoes, 10,500 sarees, 91 watches and other valuables.

Jayalalithaa’s aide Sasikala Natarajan and her relatives V N Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi also filed bail applications. The three have also been sentenced to four years in jail and a fine of Rs 10 crore each. All the four convicted persons are lodged in Parappana Agrahara central jail since Saturday.

As they have been sentenced to more than three years in jail, the bail plea can be filed only in the high court. Since the HC is closed for Dasara holidays from September 29 to October 6, Jayalalithaa’s bail plea will be heard on September 30 by the vacation Bench of the high court or by the chief justice.

According to sources, eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani is likely to represent her.

Meanwhile, central jail officials are finding it tough to manage Jayalalithaa as she has refused to accept jail food on Monday and demanded home-cooked food. Also, a large number of Tamil Nadu leaders are making a beeline to the jail to meet her.

After taking charge as CM of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam, along with a few of his ministers, has left for Bangalore to meet Jayalalithaa in jail.