Jayalalithaa convicted in disproportionate assets case

A special court in Bangalore on Saturday convicted Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case, a verdict that raises questions over her continuance in the post. Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala Natarajan and J.Ilavarasi and her disowned foster son Sudhakaran were also convicted. Special Judge John Michael D’Cunha convicted the 66-year-old All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief in a case of owning assets to the tune Rs66.65 crores disproportionate to her known sources of income during 1991-96 when she was chief minister for the first time. AIADMK spokesperson C. Ponnaiyan said the court has succumbed to the pressure from centre. “We will not stop here, and shall proceed to the higher court,” said Ponnaiyan. “We at AIADMK still believe this is a political vendetta. This is the very reason why the DMK has decided not to contest an early election. The public sentiment is without doubt in support of Jayalalithaa,” Ponnaiyan said. The verdict was delivered at a makeshift court in the Parappana Agrahara prison complex in the presence of Jayalalithaa and the other accused. If the judge sentences her to imprisonment for a period not less than two years, the AIADMK leader will stand disqualified immediately from the assembly and may have to step down as chief minister. For More information on this news visit : http://www.newsx.com/Connect with us on Social platform at : http://www.facebook.com/newsxonlineSubscribe to our YouTube Channel : http://www.youtube.com/newsxlive