Bengaluru Court Orders Karnataka Govt To Transfer Jayalalithaa’s Jewellery To Tamil Nadu

A special court in Bengaluru ruled that expensive jewelry seized during the disproportionate assets case against late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa should be returned to the Tamil Nadu government. The court also ordered Tamil Nadu to pay ₹5 crore to Karnataka for case-related expenses.

The trial was held in Karnataka, directed by the Supreme Court, and resulted in all crucial evidence now being held in the Karnataka treasury under the court's custody. Judge H A Mohan, presiding over the XXXII Additional City Civil & Sessions Court, issued the order on Monday.

Previously, the court had ruled that the relatives of Jayalalithaa were not eligible for the properties confiscated by the State. The Special CBI Court had rejected the petition filed by J Deepa and J Deepak, the niece and nephew of Jayalalithaa, respectively.

Ordering the transfer of the jewels to the Tamil Nadu Government, the Special Court judge said: "Instead of auctioning the jewels, it is better to transfer the same to Tamil Nadu by handing over the same through the Department of Home, State of Tamil Nadu."

The Court then issued the direction that the Tamil Nadu Home Department authorize "competent persons preferably in the rank of Secretary along with police to come and collect the jewels."