SC declines to urgently hear plea restraining Sasikala from becoming CM

The Supreme Court on Friday declined an urgent hearing of a plea seeking to restrain Sasikala from becoming Tamil Nadu chief minister till its decision in the disproportionate assets case

The Supreme Court declined on Friday to hear urgently a plea seeking to restrain AIADMK general secretary Sasikala from becoming the Tamil Nadu chief minister until a verdict is pronounced in a corruption case where she is an accused.

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala after attending a meeting in which she was elected as the legislative party leader in Chennai. (PTI File Photo)

The top court is expected to deliver a judgment in the Rs 63 crore disproportionate assets case next week

The decision comes amid a political storm in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the AIADMK, after caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam revolted against Sasikala and alleged he was forced to resign as CM. Sasikala has claimed support of a majority of the party’s 134 MLAs.

The SC is hearing the Karnataka government’s plea challenging the high court acquittal of 61-year-old Sasikala and three others in the case. Though late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalaithaa was the main accused, but after her death on December 5, the case against her stands abated.

A conviction after being sworn in would result in Sasikala having to step down as chief minister.

The other accused are Sasikala’s sister-in-law Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran, Jayalalithaa’s foster son who she later disowned.