Verdict in graft case against Jayalalithaa tomorrow

After fighting an 18-year-old legal battle, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has a date with destiny tomorrow when a Special Court here pronounces the verdict in the disproportionate assets case against her and three other accused.
Jayalalithaa has been charged with accumulating Rs 66 crore wealth disproportionate to known sources of her income from 1991-96 in her first term as Chief Minister in the case that has seen many political and legal twists and turns.
Her close aide Sasikala Natarajan, her niece Ilavarasi and her nephew and Jayalalithaa's disowned foster son Sudhakaran are others listed as accused in the case.

The verdict will be delivered by Special Judge John Michael D'Cunha at a makeshit court in the Parappana Agrahara prison complex with the area in and around turned into a fortress with five layers of security.
Platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, the city Armed Reserve and the Rapid Action Force will be stationed near the court, besides hundreds of police personnel, including those in plain clothes, police said.
Keeping all options open, an exclusive helipad has also been built within the prison complex in case Jayalalithaa, who enjoys 'Z Plus' security cover, decides to fly down there, police said.

The Rs 66.65 crore assets case dates back to Jayalalithaa's first term as the Chief Minister, from 1991 to 1996. It was filed before a special court in Chennai in 1996 by the Tamil Nadu's Department of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC).

In perhaps one of the longest legal battles involving a political leader ever since the case was filed, the country has witnessed five Lok Sabha elections and Tamil Nadu three Assembly polls.
As the case moved, it has faced several twists and turns following the filing of associated cases and petitions.
Moreover, the Special Court itself has witnessed five judges presiding over the case - A S Pachapure, A T Munoli, B M Mallikarjunaiah, M S Balakrishna and John Michael D'Cunha.