The Sun Sets for Sasikala?

The Supreme Court verdict convicting Chinamma also vindicates the cautious approach taken by Governor Vidyasagar Rao throughout the episode.

THE POLITICAL DEBACLE in Tamil Nadu that began with Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam tendering his resignation and rebelling against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala drew to a close with the Supreme Court upholding Sasikala’s conviction in the disproportionate assets case. Quashing the Karnataka High Court order that acquitted her, the court upheld the trial court’s judgment convicting her in the 21-year-old case. She has been sentenced to four years in prison and a fine of Rs 10 crore has been imposed.

Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s longtime aide, was accused of misusing her office to accrue properties worth more than Rs 60 crore that did not add up to her known sources of income.

A bench comprising Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy also set aside the acquittal of Sasikala’s two co-accused–J Ilavarasi and VN Sudhakaran. They noted that the appeals filed by the Karnataka government and others, including DMK leader K Anbazhagan, against former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had abated after her death on December 5, 2016.