File photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa
The Karnataka government is sending over a bill of more than Rs. 5.11 crore to neighbour Tamil Nadu soon. This is just the expenses of their law department that has been spent on conducting the trial of Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, and three others in a corruption case over the last 12 years.
Ms Jayalalithaa has filed her nomination for a by-election today after being acquitted in a disproportionate assets case by the Karnataka High Court.
Karnataka law minister, T B Jayachandra told NDTV, "While transferring the case from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka, the Supreme Court has said Karnataka can claim the money from the Tamil Nadu government. Now I am collecting all the information, how much is being spent by the departments. The law department yesterday they have submitted. So far they have spent over Rs 5 crore. Like that other departments also are there."
The legal costs were one factor, but when Jayalalithaa was required to appear in person there was a huge amount that needed to be spent to make sure her security requirements were met, and the costs are still being counted for a bill to be sent to Tamil Nadu.
Ms Jayalalithaa returned as Tamil Nadu chief minister two weeks ago after the Karnataka High Court acquitted her on May 11, quashing her conviction by a Bangalore trial court in September last year.
The Karnataka government's involvement in the case is far from over, as the state is
appealing against the acquittal in the Supreme Court, having issued orders for the special leave petition to be filed today.
The Supreme Court had transferred the case to Bengaluru on November 18, 2003, after K Anbazhagan, a politician from the DMK, Ms Jayalalithaa's arch rival, contended that a fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu with her Chief Minister.
In September last year, the trial court held Ms Jayalalithaa guilty of amassing wealth beyond her income. She was jailed for three weeks before being granted bail. The conviction forced the chief of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK to
resign as chief minister.
One more twist in the drama surrounding this controversial political figure, her government having to foot the bill for her prosecution.