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‘Preferential treatment’ in jail case:Bengaluru court grants bail to Sasikala, kin
In July 2017, then deputy inspector general (DIG) prisons, D Roopa, had submitted a report of widespread corruption, drug abuse, mismanagement and an alleged bribe paid by Sasikala, who was then the AIADMK general secretary, for preferential treatment while housed in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara jail.
A Bengaluru court on Friday granted a bail to VK Sasikala, the expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and confidant of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, in a case relating to allegation of preferential treatment availed during her stay at the Bengaluru central prison.
Sasikala and her sister-in-law Ilavarasi were given a conditional bail with a cash bond of ₹3 lakh.
In July 2017, then deputy inspector general (DIG) prisons, D Roopa, had submitted a report of widespread corruption, drug abuse, mismanagement and an alleged bribe paid by Sasikala, who was then the AIADMK general secretary, for preferential treatment while housed in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara jail.
Roopa, in her report, stated that during her visit to Parappana Agrahara on July 10, 2017, she found Sasikala was provided with a separate kitchen among other serious irregularities which include drug abuse, unregulated movement of prisoners, threatening and assault of medical staff by prisoners for favourable reports among other serious charges.
The case led to the then Siddaramaiaiah-led Congress government to order a high-level probe into the allegations. In 2018, the anti-corruption bureau filed an FIR.
The main accused was Krisha Kumar, the then chief superintendent of the prisons department and Anita, the superintendent. They have already secured a stay from the Karnataka HC on the anti-corruption bureau enquiry.
The third and fourth accused in the list are B Suresh, assistant superintendent and Gayaraj Makkanooru, security officer.
Sasikala and Ilavarasi are the fifth and sixth accused, respectively and will now have to appear in person on April 16, the court said.
Sasikala was jailed in the disproportionate assets case in which Jayalalithaa too was named.
Sasikala was convict no 9234 and other allegations during her stay there included meeting 28 visitors in 31 days between February 16 to March 18 as against prison rules which states that convicts are eligible for interviews with friends, family or advocates only one in 15 days.
The Supreme Court in February 2017 had upheld a Bengaluru trial court order which convicted Sasikala and two others for owning disproportionate assets in a 21-year-old case. She had surrendered before authorities to serve the remaining of her four-year jail term.
The Karnataka government had sanctioned the prosecution of accused people last year on December 30 and on January 7, this year the chargesheet was filed before the special court.
The verdict had thwarted political ambitions of Sasikala who wanted O Panneerselvam, the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, to step down to make way for her, who is better known as Chinnamma. The open rebellion by Panneerselvam resulted in an all-out political crisis in the southern state which ended with Sasikala getting expelled.
Earlier this month, the AIADMK expelled O Raja, Paneerselvam’s brother for meeting with Sasikala in what is being seen as a way for Chinamma to re-enter the party fold.
This loss and their ally Bharatiya Janata Party’s growth in the civic polls has reignited the call for a unified party with a section supporting Sasikala’s return. This section is largely from Panneerselvam’s camp, as he and Sasikala belong to the same Thevar community.
Sasikala on Friday began a two-day tour of southern districts in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, which is turning into a pilgrimage cum political tour. She received a rousing reception, with supporters waving AIADMK flags.
Sasikala has recently remarked that the AIADMK had never faced so many electoral defeats in its 50-year history and called for a united party. Raja met her at a hotel in Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi. Raja had also attended wedding of Sasikala’s nephew and Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam founder TTV Dhinakaran’s daughter.
