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Tamil Nadu Opposition counts the numbers, slams Jaya verdict
Rival parties says the calculations were wrong and appealed to the Karnataka government to challenge the verdict.
Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu alleged on Tuesday a calculation error in the Karnataka High Court order that acquitted AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa in a 19-year-old disproportionate assets case.
Stunned by the verdict on Monday that cleared the decks for Jayalalithaa to return to the chief minister's post, principal rivals DMK, PMK and Congress picked holes in the judgment the day after it was announced.
The court absolved the 67-year-old former actress, confidante Sasikala and two others of all charges on the ground that only assets worth Rs 2.82 crore were disproportionate, within the "permissible" limit. "The percentage of disproportionate assets is 8.12%. It is relatively small--therefore, accused are entitled for acquittal," said the judgment.
The opposition parties said the calculations were wrong and appealed to the Karnataka government to challenge the verdict.
DMK president M Karunanidhi alleged that Rs 13.50 crore was erroneously added to Jayalalithaa's income, thereby pulling down the percentage of disproportionate income.
The amount spent on the 1996 wedding of her foster son, Sudhakaran, and the value of Jayalalithaa's house at Poes Garden was reduced without reason, he said.
DMK sources said the party was exploring legal options to challenge the verdict.
PMK chief S Ramadoss agreed with the DMK supremo, saying if Rs 13.50 crore was deducted from Jayalalithaa's income, the total disproportionate amount would be more than Rs 21.26 crore.
"This works out to be 75% more than her income from declared sources. Jayalalithaa and her aides had borrowed Rs 10.67 crore but the verdict mentions Rs 24.17 crore. These glaring loopholes shake the verdict's foundation," Ramadoss said.
DMDK leader Captain Vijayakanth said the judgment was "shocking and surprising".
Congress state unit chief EVKS Elangovan said the verdict "is full of errors" and should be revised.
