Supreme Court convicts VK Sasikala in DA case

In a major blow to the AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, Supreme Court on 14 February convicted her in the Disproportionate Assets case. Late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa was also an accused in the 19-year-old case.

The top court has set aside Karnataka High Court's order and awarded Sasikala a jail term of 4 years following which she will not be able to become the state chief minister.

The verdict has come in the backdrop of the ongoing power struggle within the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu between Ms Sasikala and the caretaker chief minister O.Panneerselvam.

The pending disproportionate assets case that posed a legal hurdle against Sasikala's taking over as the chief minister, dates back to 1996. Late J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives, Ilavarasi and Sudhagaran, were convicted in the case that alleged that the former chief minister owned assets far exceeding her known sources of income.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Sasikala assured that she would ensure unity in the party and continue its rule for the rest of its tenure, while making a scathing attack on Panneerselvam saying that he is showing attributes of a traitor against the party.

The principal opposition party in the state, the DMK, has sought floor test in the Assembly to prove who enjoy the confidence of the House. The party's higher level strategic committee meeting was held yesterday in Chennai, chaired by its working president MK Stalin.

Eleven resolutions were passed in the meet including the one insisting that the Governor should immediately take action for facilitating a stable government in the House.

- With ANI inputs