Sasikala's CM Dreams Shattered, Sentenced To Four Years Imprisonment In Disproportionate Assets Case

In a major blow to embattled AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan, the Supreme Court has convicted her to four years imprisonment in a two-decade-old disproportionate assets case.

BCCL

The verdict which comes at a time when she is locked in a fierce battle with O Panneerselvam for the chief ministership of Tamil Nadu has now effectively barred her from contesting elections.

Delivering the judgement, the court asked Sasikala to surrender immediately. The case, which dates back to 1997 and also involved the then chief minister Jayalalithaa. She was accused of having wealth of Rs 64 crores more than declared sources of income during 1991 to 1996 when Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister.

BCCL

The duo, along with three others, was convicted in the case in 2014 with Jayalalithaa, VK Sasikala, V Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi all getting four years¡¯ imprisonment.While Jaya was also slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore her co-accused, were given fines of Rs 10 crore each.

They were acquainted by the Karnataka High Court in May 2015 citing that a number of disproportionate assets were only 8 per cent and not 10 per cent as accused in the complaint.

BCCL

With the Supreme Court upholding the conviction, it is advantage Panneerselvam in the political game in the state.

With Sasikala effectively ruled out, it is highly likely that more and more AIADMK MLAs could 'defect' from the official faction and join hands with OPS.