V.K. Sasikala, a close aide of late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, will be released from jail on January 27, her lawyer said on Tuesday. Sasikala has been lodged in Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru since 2016 after she was convicted in a Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case in which Jayalalithaa was the main accused.
Sasikala had initiated the process of her release in November last by depositing the fine amount of Rs 10 crore before the 34th city civil court. The payment of the fine amount had ensured her release latest by January 27 though her jail term actually ends on February 13. The money was paid by four of her family members—M.Pazhanivelu, Vasantha, Hema and Vivek Jayaraman.
Sasikala had become the AIADMK chief in 2016 after the death of Jayalalithaa. However, after her conviction and imprisonment, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam took control of the party with the former becoming the chief minister.
Both Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, who had engaged in a factional feud to assert their positions in the party, have recently come to terms as they together announced a 11-member steering committee to guide the party.
Sasikala’s release is likely to bring in changes in the political equations in Tamil Nadu. Sources had earlier told THE WEEK that the disgruntled forces in the AIADMK would rally behind Sasikala.
Palaniswami, who is also the AIADMK co-coordinator, on Tuesday ruled out the re-entry of Sasikala into the party. “Hundred per cent she will not be admitted. AIADMK is now functioning after clearly deciding on this. There is no different opinion on this," he said.
