Jayalalithaa, others could not satisfactorily account for wealth: Karnataka HC

Bangalore: AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa could not "satisfactorily account" for immovable properties and pecuniary resources of the value of Rs 53.6 crore when she was the Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, the Special Court that sentenced her to four years in jail has held.

Prosecution has proved "beyond reasonable doubt" that as against the income of Rs 9.91 crore and expenditure of Rs 8.49 crore during the "check period" (1991-1996), Jayalalithaa acquired and possessed in her name and that of the three other accused and in the name of the business enterprises acquired in their names immovable properties and pecuniary resources of the value of Rs 53.6 crore "which she could not satisfactorily account," the court said.

In what is considered a watershed verdict in the 18-year old case with a sitting Chief Minister being convicted for the first time, Special Judge John Michael D'Cunha on September 27 had sent Jayalalithaa to four years imprisonment and slapped a staggering fine of Rs 100 crore in the Rs 66.65 crore graft case.

Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala, her relatives V N Sudhakaran, disowned son of the former Chief Minister, and Ilavarasi, were sentenced to four years imprisonment and levied a fine of Rs 10 crore each in the judgement, which came as a bolt from the blue to the ruling AIAMDK in Tamil Nadu.

In his order, the judge also said prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused were parties to criminal conspiracy in the object of acquiring and pecuniary resource and assets to the extent of Rs 53.6 crore beyond the known source of income of Jayalalithaa.

"Hence, A1, A2, A3 and A4 are hereby convicted under the offence punishable under Sec 120(B) of IPC R/w Sec 13(1)(e) R/W Sec 13(2) of the PC act," the judge said.