No Objection to Conditional Bail for Jayalalithaa, Says Prosecution
Edited by Mala Das | Updated: Oct 07, 2014 15:33 IST
(Press Trust of India photo)
Bangalore:
Whether J Jayalalithaa will leave jail could be decided today in Bangalore. The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu's request for bail is being heard by the Karnataka High Court.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
Ms Jayalalithaa, 66, was arrested for corruption late last month after being convicted by a Bangalore court.
Her trial was moved in 2001 to neighbouring Karnataka from Tamil Nadu to ensure it would be free of political influence.
Ms Jayalalithaa has appealed against her conviction and asked for bail. She is being represented by famous lawyer Ram Jethmalani. He requested the Karnataka High Court to hear her bail request as a priority today, but was told he would have to wait his turn.
Arguments are now on. Mr Jethmalani has argued for bail on technical points, quoting precedent in past cases and even Oscar Wilde. Ms Jayalalithaa's petition seeks bail on health grounds.
Ms Jayalalithaa says she has wrongly been convicted of misusing her first term as chief minister from 1991 to 1996 to collect assets worth nearly Rs. 50 crore, which were incommensurate with her declared income.
The prosecution, arguing against her bail, has said that if Ms Jayalalithaa is freed, she could influence the proceedings against her.
Her conviction meant that as per last year's landmark Supreme Court order, she was immediately disqualified from office.
She was sentenced to four years in prison and penalized Rs. 100 crore; three of her aides, including live-in friend Sasikala Natarajan were also found guilty.
She has been replaced as Chief Minister by loyalist O Panneerselvam. Since her arrest, many top leaders from her party, the AIADMK, have lined up to meet her in jail; she has refused to see most.
Her arrest triggered large protests in her state by workers of her party, the AIADMK.
Story first published: Oct 07, 2014 08:24 IST
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