What happens to the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa?

Jayalalithaa's death came during the pendency of the appeal against her and three others in the disproportionate assets case

Bengaluru, Dec 6: J Jayalalithaa passed away last night at the Apollo hospital. While there is outpouring of grief across the state of Tamil Nadu, one also needs to understand that her death came during the pendency of the appeal against her and three others in the disproportionate assets case.

Arguments before the Supreme Court concluded over three months back and the verdict in the case has been reserved. There is, however, no clarity on when the verdict would be out. The question now is what happens to this case in the event of her death.

The trial court had convicted J Jayalalithaa, Sasikala Natrajan, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran. The Karnataka High Court, however, acquitted all four in the case following which an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court.

There are two scenarios in this case. If there is an acquittal then no point of law would come up. However, if the Supreme Court decides to uphold the verdict of the trial court then a question of law would crop up.

The question is what happens in the case of Jayalalithaa since she is now deceased.

If the court decides to hold the accused guilty then the case against Jayalalithaa would stand abetted. This would mean that the sentence cannot be awarded.

However, the disproportionate assets which have been seized will be handed over to the state. The conviction in the case of the other persons would stand and if a sentence is handed out then they would have to serve it.

OneIndia News