Zee Media Bureau, Bangalore :In a huge setback to Jayalalithaa, a special court on Saturday held the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister guilty of amassing Rs 66.65 crore wealth disproportionate to known sources of her income during her first term in office. Her conviction has led to violent protests in Tamil Nadu.Following this verdict, Jayalalithaa, also known as Amma (mother) by her party cadres, is disqualified as a member of Tamil Nadu Assembly. The big question now is who will head the government in the absence of Jayalalithaa.Pronouncing the order amid tight security, Special Judge John Michael D’Cunha held AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of her income under Sections 109 and 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, said Special Public Prosecutor G Bhavani Singh.The Special Judge, who had directed all the accused to be present in his court on the judgement day, will pronounce the quantum of sentence in the 18-year-old case shortly.Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala Natarajan, her niece Ilavarasi and her nephew and the CM’s disowned foster son Sudhakaran were also convicted.The judge pronounced the order in a special court set up in the central jail at Parapanna Agrahara in the city’s southern suburb amid tight security.Reacting to the verdict, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) workers mourned, while Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam workers celebrated outside party president M Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence in Chennai.Meanwhile, AIADMK supporters pelted stones at Karunanidhi’s house following the verdict. Notably, security has been heightened at the DMK headquarters and residences of its senior leaders. Police said that on a request from DMK, security had been increased at “Anna Arivalayam”, the headquarters of DMK, two residences of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi and the residence of Anbazhagan, party’s general secretary. DMK party office in Coimbatore has also been closed. All roads leading to M Karunanidhi’s residence have been cordoned off.If the judge sentences her to imprisonment for a period not less than two years, the AIADMK leader will stand disqualified immediately from the Assembly and may have to step down as chief minister.Hailing the decision as significant, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said the verdict will have an impact on Tamil Nadu politics.The prolonged trial saw five judges – AS Pachapure, AT Munoli, BM Mallikarjunaiah, MS Balakrishna and John Michael D’Cunha.Amid tight security, Jayalalithaa arrived in Bangalore this morning after flying in by a special aircraft at the HAL Airport along with the other accused and reached the court by road.During the court proceedings, security forces lathicharged Jayalalithaa’s supporters holding protests outside Parappana Agrahara prison complex.Police are also closely checking vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration at the check post at Attibeli on the border. AIADMK supporters had gathered at the border but were stopped by police, who have been deployed in strength.
