Chennai, Sep 15 (UNI) Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa's
close aid V K Sasikala, who was convicted and sentenced to four year
jail term in the disproportionate assets case in 2017, might be released
from prison on January 27 next year, provided she paid the fine imposed
on her.
However, if she did not pay the fine, she would undergo another one year
imprisonment till February 27, 2022.
Confirming this in response to a plea made under the RTI Act, Public
Information Officer Bangalore Central Prison Superintendent R Latha
said as per prison records convict prisoner number 9234 Sasikala's
'probable date of release' is January 27, 2021, provided in-default
fine amount is paid as awarded by the court'.
'Further, her 'probable date of release' would be February 27, 2022,
if the fine is not paid', she said.
'Subsequently, probable date of release may vary if she utilises parole
facility', Ms Latha said.
Ms Sasikala was lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central prison in Bengaluru
since February 15, 2017 after the Supreme Court set aside the High Court
order acquitting her and upheld the trail court order convicting her to four
years jail term in the disproportionate assets case, in which the late leader
Jayalalithaa, was also involved'.
Apart from the four year jail term, the court also directed Sasikala to pay a
fine of Rs 10 crore.
Bengaluru-based social activist T Narasimamurthy filed an RTI query
seeking details of her release in August to which the prison department
has given its reply.
Sasikala's nephew Sudhakaran and her close relative J Ilavarasi were
also serving four year jail term along with her.
It may be recalled that the Income-Tax department had on August 31
attached 65 properties worth Rs 300 crore at the time of purchase
between 2003 and 2005 and allegedly owned by her Benamis.
It included an under construction residence in a site right across
Ms Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence. The site measured about
ten grounds (24,000 sq ft plot), which was once owned by Binny Mills
Limited.
The Income Tax department’s Benami Prohibition Unit has provisionally
attached properties in and around the city worth Rs 300 crore allegedly
belonging to Sasikala.
She is said to have purchased these properties through shell companies.
IT sources said a notice had been served to Sasikala at the Bengaluru
prison, the 'benami company' and the various Sub-Registrar Offices
(SROs) under whose jurisdiction the properties were situated.
These properties, collectively spread over 200 acres, were purchased
by Sri Hari Chandana Estates Private Limited, represented by
Kaliyaperumal and Sivakumar. The properties were situated in Poes
Garden, Alandur, Tambaram, Guduvanchery and Sriperumbudur.
The company had no business or income to purchase these properties
and enquiries by the IT department revealed that these were benami
properties of Sasikala.
UNI GV 1230