For Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary was just another day in jail
The 69th birth anniversary of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa was a quiet day for her long-time confidante and AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, who is currently housed in the central jail on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
The 69th birth anniversary of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday was a quiet day for her long-time confidante and AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, who is currently housed in the central jail on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
“Nothing special for Sasikala or other inmates. It was a like any other day for her. She spent the day as per the routine followed by all inmates. Being a holiday, outsiders were not allowed to meet inmates,” jail superintendent Krishna Kumar said.
Sasikala, 59, is serving a four-year sentence upheld by the Supreme Court after she was held guilty of corruption in a two-decade-old wealth case. A trial court had first held her guilty in September 2014 in Bengaluru.
“It was a normal day for Sasikala. She followed the routine. She would have celebrated Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary silently in her own way in the cell,” said Kumar.
Sasikala and her co-convict sister-in-law Elavarasi and nephew VK Sudhakaran returned to the jail on February 15 after the Supreme Court refused to give them more time to surrender.
Sasikala and Elavarasi are lodged in adjacent cells in the women’s barracks of the high-security jail in Parapanna Agrahara area.
“Sasikala woke up early, got ready and offered prayers. She also watered the sacred tulsi plant in the barracks, paid obeisance to Jayalalithaa and placed flowers at her photo in her cell. Elavarasi joined in celebrating Amma’s birth anniversary,” another jail official said.
Though Sasikala is the general secretary of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, she is being treated like other ordinary inmates or convicts.
“Sasikala may be a leader of a political party in her state. But for us, she is not a high-profile inmate. In fact, she is maintaining a low-profile in prison,” added the official.
Tamil Nadu chief minister EP Palaniswami and some cabinet ministers are likely to call on Sasikala next week after getting permission from the jail authorities.
Get Current Updates on Election 2024, India News, Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.