Jayalalithaa released from Bangalore jail, AIADMK supporters celebrate

Bangalore, Oct 18: Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J

, who was given an interim bail by the Supreme Court in connection to the disproportionate assets case, was released from the central jail here on Saturday.

AIADMK supporters celebrated the release of their supremo and prepared to give her a grand welcome at the Chennai airport. Security was also beefed up at the Chennai airport ahead of the 66-year-old leader's arrival. Around 200 police personnel were deployed at the city airport.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, the former finance minister of Tamil Nadu who succeeded Jayalalithaa after she was convicted by a specia court in Bangalore in the DA case on September 27, and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha M Thambidurai were at the airport to receive the former chief minister.

The apex court gave Jayalalithaa an interim bail on Friday and ordered her release. The three-judge Bench of Chief Justice HL Dattu and Justices Madan B Lokur and AK Sikri also stayed the operation of the four-year sentence imposed by the trial court on the four accused.

Jayalalithaa and three others were convicted in the 18-year-old Rs 66.65 crore DA case. She was also fined Rs 100 crore. Jayalalithaa had to step down as the chief minister as soon as she was convicted. The three others convicted were also given bail.

After the hearing, senior counsels Fali Nariman (for Jayalalithaa) and KTS Tulsi (for the other convicted), the Bench said all the four convicts must get the papers for their appeals ready within two months.

The matter would come up for hearing again on December 18.

Oneindia News