File photo: AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa
J Jayalalithaa, who was convicted in a corruption case and sentenced to four years on Saturday, moved the Karnataka High Court today against the verdict and asked for bail. Her loyal aide O Panneerselvam was sworn in as Chief Minister in her place this afternoon.
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Ms Jayalalithaa may have to spend at least another day in jail as her bail plea will be taken up by a vacation bench of the court only on Tuesday. Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani is likely to represent her.
Sources in Jayalalithaa's AIADMK party say she is taking major decisions from jail; the party reportedly took her approval for the ministerial rejig after Mr Panneerselvam's takeover.
Mr Panneerselvam, 63, who was the state finance minister, takes over for the second term as chief minister, in similar circumstances. In 2000, he was handpicked by Ms Jayalalithaa when she had to step down after being convicted a land scam.
Mr Panneerselvam was among the few party men who went to meet Ms Jayalalithaa at Bangalore's Central jail on Sunday. Questions have been raised about whether he will operate as a proxy ruler for Ms Jayalalithaa, who is known to take all decisions in the party and before whom ministers are said to prostrate themselves.
Ms Jayalalithaa, who is prisoner number 7402 in the Bangalore jail, has been receiving a constant stream of visitors since she was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail on Saturday.
In a 910-page order, the court also asked her to pay Rs 100 crore fine.
The 66-year-old controversial politician was held guilty of amassing illegal wealth - including 28 kg gold, property worth crores, 750 pairs of shoes and 10,000 saris -- in the case that she has always dismissed as politically motivated.
A Supreme Court ruling of last year disqualifies her as a lawmaker. She also cannot contest elections for 10 years.
Members of the AIADMK are protesting outside the residence of Jayalalithaa's arch rival M Karunanidhi, the chief of the DMK, which pursued the case against her.
Jayalalithaa's supporters have protested in Chennai and Bangalore over the weekend. Hundreds of AIADMK workers have damaged vehicles and burnt effigies of rivals in street protests. Women protesters have been seen screaming, wailing and throwing themselves on the ground.
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