Jayalalithaa denied bail: From wild joy to utter despair, AIADMK shell-shocked

Chennai: Celebratory cheering by AIADMK workers turned into wails after the Karnataka high court refused bail to their party supremo J. Jayalalithaa.

They had burst crackers and distributed sweets after news reports on TV channels said that special public prosecutor Bhavani Singh told the court that he had no objection to Jayalalithaa being granted conditional bail.

But within half an hour, there came the shocking news for the cadres that the court turned down the bail applications from Jayalalithaa and the three others accused in the disproportionate assets case.

As the unconfirmed reports announcing that Jayalalithaa had been given bail came in, state ministers started queuing up at the party headquarters at Royapettah. “Annen amma vanthutanga” (brother Amma is back), screamed housing minister R. Vaithyalingam with a tight hug for senior minister Natham R. Viswanathan.

The rumours were so strong that even the police officers believed them for a while. As the jubilation started around 3.45 pm, some senior officers started making arrangements for her travel to the HAL airport.

Read: Jayalalithaa’s assets overestimated: Ram Jethmalani

“A convoy was made ready to escort her to the airport. Almost everything was set, but was called off later after the news of HC rejecting bail was confirmed,” a source informed.

But within moments, the entire state cabinet started to maintain silence and remained tight-lipped.

Supporters of AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalitha weep after her conditional bail was rejected by the Bangalore court, in Coimbatore (Photo: PTI)

Former finance minister C. Ponnaiyan who came early to the party office had the difficult task of explaining to the cadres that their party chief’s plea had been dismissed. A few state ministers also asked him to brief them on what went wrong at the court. “It is a conspiracy against Amma and all the evil forces are working in tandem, the TV channels were also hoping that Amma would be released as there was no objection from the prosecution,” said Ponnaiyan before leaving the party office.

Read: Disproportionate assets case: Laughter, and then tears

“My hunch is that the national parties are behind the conspiracy and injustice has been done to our leader,” said former minister Valarmathi Jebaraj. Earlier, they denied water for Tamil Nadu and now they are not letting Amma on bail, she added.

“Twice within a fortnight, it has been an emotional roller coaster for us and with heavy heart, we are longing for Amma,” said cadres Nagamma and Raja Rathinam fighting back tears after bail plea was rejected.

State ministers camp near prison

A good number of ministers and MLAs from the AIADMK had camped near the prison. They were hoping for her release and were ready to welcome her out of the prison. But they had to return disappointed.

Read: Jayalalithaa's bail plea rejected: Sporadic violence controlled

Will Jaya be shifted to Tamil Nadu?

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai was reported to have approached Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah about the possibility of shifting his leader Jayalalithaa to a jail in Tamil Nadu, but the Karnataka Chief Minister is said to have pointed out this was not in his hands and that the court has to decide.

A supporter of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa cries outside the Karnataka high court after her conditional bail was rejected in Bengaluru (Photo: PTI)

Tamil Nadu CM appeals for calm in state

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam appealed to people not to resort to strike or any other form of protest to express solidarity with the AIADMK chief as she would not like to cause inconvenience to the common man. No one should resort to closure of shops, strike or any other similar activities, he said.

Read: Disproportionate assets case: Confusion over false news on Jayalalithaa's bail

Jayalalithaa may approach Supreme Court

Jayalalithaa’s lawyers are preparing an appeal in the Supreme Court. In the Lalu case also, it was Supreme Court, which granted bail and not the CBI special court that convicted him.