Jayalalithaa case: What the Judge D'Cunha said to declare her guilty?

Bangalore, Oct 2: "Heady mix of power and wealth is the bottom line of this case," the Special Court that gave a watershed verdict sentencing AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and three others to four years in jail in the disproportionate assets case has said.

"Huge accumulation of wealth in a short span of five years (1991-96) is a telling example of how power would lead to a concentration of unlawful wealth posing veritable danger to democratic structure," Judge John Michael D'Cunha said in his 1136 page order.

In the verdict delivered on Saturday last that unseated Jayalalithaa from Chief Ministership, making it the first case of conviction of the person holding that post, the judge has also slapped a staggering fine of Rs 100 crore on her and Rs 10 crore on three other accused.

It was proved in evidence that, at the time of commencement of the check period (1991-96), Jayalalithaa was in possession of total assets worth Rs 2,01,83,965.53 including the assets of the partnership of Jaya Publications and Sasi Enterprises, the judge said.

But, it noted, by the end of April 30,1996, her total wealth had risen to Rs 53,60,49,954.00 against her legitimate income of Rs 9,91,05,094. "This value is not the present market value of the assets".

It should be noted that the value of the disproportionate assets possessed by the accused are determined on the basis of the actual cost incurred by them for acquisition of properties and assets from 1991 to 1996, the order said.

PTI