Supreme Court judgement convicting Sasikala also refers to Jayalalithaa
Nearly two months after the death of J Jayalalithaa, a Supreme Court judgement has used sharp words while indicting the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for corruption. Even though the case against her stands abated after her death, the court made searing observations on Jayalalithaa - Accused No 1 in the case.
The 570-page judgement has ended the chief ministerial ambitions of VK Sasikala, the long-time companion of Jayalalithaa. She and two of her relatives have been convicted and sent to jail for four years.
The court said Jayalalithaa and Sasikala "entered into a conspiracy" and Jayalalithaa being a public servant "came into possession of disproportionate assets to the known source of income and distributed to Sasikala and two others." Jayalalithaa's wealth went from Rs 2.01 crore in 1996 to Rs 66.44 crore in 1996.
"The inflow of funds from Jayalalitha's account to Sasikala's proves collective involvement of the four accused," it added.
Ms Sasikala and her relatives are guilty of actively participating in the conspiracy to "launder the ill-gotten wealth of Jayalalithaa" to buy properties, says the order.
All the accused - including Jayalalithaa - purchased properties less than market value by forcing the sellers, the court said, adding that the properties were registered by officials at Jayalalithaa's home.
Sasikala and her relatives stayed in Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden "not for any philanthropic urge for friends" but in a criminal conspiracy to hold assets of Jayalalithaa.
The order says Jayalalithaa had given general "power of attorney" to Sasikala and it was unlikely she was unaware of her wrongdoings.
"On the basis of the reasoning of the court, Jayalalithaa would have been convicted had she been alive," former additional Solicitor General Raju Ramachandran told NDTV.
Jayalalithaa, a powerful and charismatic politician who had an iron grip over her party men and commanded the unswerving loyalty of thousands of AIADMK leaders and workers, battled many court cases in her lifetime.
Today's case dates back to 1996, when she became Chief Minister for the first time. She and Sasikala were accused of amassing a fortune that was far more than her known sources of income.
In 2014, both women were sentenced to jail for corruption but were acquitted on appeal after serving a brief period behind bars.
After Ms Jayalalithaa and Ms Sasikala were both acquitted in 2015, an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court. Ms Jayalalithaa, a former film actor, had to step down as Chief Minister twice over corruption cases.
In 2001, the Supreme Court struck down her appointment saying she faced conviction in what was widely known as the Tansi land scam. She was acquitted in the case that was linked to the construction of a hotel in violation of rules.
She again had to give up her post in 2015, after her conviction in the assets case.
Rival parties like the Congress and the DMK say today's order confirms what they call the "tainted legacy" of Ms Jayalalithaa.
"This judgment is a good step and shows public officials how they must behave and how they must not be corrupt," said DMK's MK Stalin.