Bangalore:
Sasikala, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's estranged friend will have to stay in Bangalore for a few days. This is not because she has been ousted from her house by her closest friend once upon a time, but for the reason that she is accused number two in the disproportionate assets case, right behind Ms Jayalalithaa.
Ms Sasikala managed to answer only 60 out of nearly 1000 questions that were posed to her in the last two days at the special court in Bangalore that is trying the case.
After Ms Jayalalitha and Ms Sasikala parted ways, it was expected that the latter may throw some surprises in her defense. However, she gave a clean chit to Ms Jayalalithaa. Even after the arrest of her husband Natrajan in Chennai, the expelled AIDMK seems to be taking a soft stand, and literally so, as the judge had to remind her each time to be audible.
The 15-year-old case concerns to several crore rupees Ms Jayalalithaa allegedly amassed as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between 1991 and 1996. Ms Sasikala has so far in her statements indicated that - Ms Jayalalithaa was only an official partner in Jaya Publications and Sasi Enterprises, the firms in question and admitted that the day to day decisions were made by her and not Ms Jaylalithaa.
Ms Sasikala said she solely operated the bank account that is in question. Ironically, the same day, her husband was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in connection with a land grabbing case.
In 1996, when Ms Jayalalithaa was beleaguered by a slew of corruption charges, she had a brief falling out with Ms Sasikala, who belongs to the strong Thevar community, traditionally AIADMK loyalists.
Ms Jayalalithaa had recently expelled Ms Sasikala and 11 of her relatives from her party. No reason was officially given for the drastic step, but the move was seen by many as an attempt by Ms Jayalalithaa to reign in an increasingly powerful Ms Sasikala. There were complaints that Ms Natarajan and her family were trying to dominate matters in the AIADMK and attempting to influence government functioning. Those who were handed the pink slip included Ms Sasikala's husband, Mr Natarajan and her nephew and former MP T T V Dinakaran.
Ms Sasikala had been Ms Jayalalithaa's closest companion for three decades. She became an acknowledged power centre in the AIADMK because of her proximity to Ms Jayalalithaa and insiders say that her opinions counted towards the selection of ministers and party candidates.