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It is described as a dramatic change in the political circle of Tamil Nadu, but it was expected. Nobody anticipated that this change would come this early. The people of the tamil Nadu state , at least now should adjust themselves to accept the reality and truth. It is difficult for some party members, but if they sit and think for a while, they would get a clear picture about the situation.

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, found guilty in disproportionate asset case

A powerful court in India has convicted the chief minister of the country’s southern Tamil Nadu state in a corruption case. The charges against Jayaram Jayalalitha date back almost two decades.

In a verdict announced on 27^th September 2014, a court in Bangalore found the 66-year-old star politician guilty of possessing wealth which was disproportionate to her known sources of income.Prosecutors said Jayalalitha’s assets – a fortune of about 660 million rupees ($11 million, 8.7 million euros) – far exceeded her known earnings during her first term in office as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, from 1991 to 1996.

Jayalalitha, one of India’s most controversial and colorful politicians, began her third stint as Tamil Nadu’s chief minister in May 2011. Her All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party is the third biggest force in the country’s national parliament after winning most of the Tamil Nadu seats in this year’s elections.

Indian media was speculating whether she would have to step down from her chief minister post as a result of the graft verdict.But, it has become mandatory according to the constitutation of the state government.

The former actress, who in her youth starred in more than 100 films, has staunch supporters in Tamil Nadu and is known to her followers as “Amma,” which means mother. Her supporters have maintained that the charges were politically motivated.

Three of her associates were also found guilty in the corruption case, which was held in Bangalore amid high security.There were also reports of a strong police presence across Tamil Nadu to prevent clashes between Jayalaitha’s supporters and rival groups.

What happened on 27^th September 2014 ?

Sept 27: A Bangalore court on Saturday found Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa guilty of corruption. The case was filed 18 years ago by her arch rival, the DMK.

6:30 pm: Massive protest by AIADMK supporters outside Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai. Both men and women created a troublesome atmosphere  as police failed to control the mob.
6:45 pm: Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah reviews security; state tense after Jayalalithaa was convicted of corruption.

7:00 pm: AIADMK supporters attack NDTV crew, damage equipment outside Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai.
7:15 pm: Mrugesh M, Assistant Public Prosecutor, told that Jayalalithaa has been taken into custody. She will be sent to jail once her medical check-up is done.

7:36 pm: Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and Tamil Nadu DGP rushed to meet the Governor K Rossiah at the Governor House in Chennai. The city is tense following verdict on Jayalalithaa.

7:45 pm: AIADMK workers attacked mediapersons outside Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai.

8:10 pm: AIADMK workers in Coimbatore block public transport and burn effigies of Subramanian Swamy and Karunanidhi over Jayalalithaa verdict.

8:56 pm: Jayalalithaa is Prisoner number 7402 in Parappana Agrahara. Jayalalithaa has been barred from contesting elections in coming 10 years.

10:41 pm: Complete breakdown in constitutional machinery in TN:

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Following is the course the disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has traversed, seeing legal and political twists and turns in the last 18 years after the DMK government decided to form Special Court on coming to power in 1996.

The history calendar is given below :

1996: Dr Subramanian Swamy, then a leader of Janata Party, files a case against Jayalalithaa alleging that during her tenure as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, she amassed properties worth Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income.

Dec 7, 1996: Jayalalitha arrested. Many allegations follow, including accumulation of disproportionate assets.

1997: A prosecution launched in Additional Sessions Court in Chennai against Jayalalithaa and three others for having assets “disproportionate” to their known income.

June 4, 1997: Charge-sheeted for offences under Sections 120-B IPC, 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

October 1, 1997: Madras High Court dismisses three petitions by Jayalalitha including one challenging sanction granted by then Governor M Fathima Beevi for prosecuting her in the wealth case.

Trial progresses. By august 2000, 250 prosecution witnesses examined, only 10 more remained.

In the 2001 May Assembly elections, AIADMK secures absolute majority and Jayalalitha becomes Chief Minister. Her appointment is challenged due to her conviction in October, 2000 in the TANSI (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation) case. SC nullifies the appointment.

September 21, 2001, Jayalalithaa ceases to be Chief Minister.

After her conviction is set aside, Jayalalithaa is elected to the Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency on Feb 21, 2002, and again sworn in as Chief Minister.

Three public prosecutors resigned as also senior counsel.

Several prosecution witnesses changed from their earlier depositions after AIADMK returned to power.

2003: DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan approaches Supreme Court for transferring the trial to Karnataka on the ground that a fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu with Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister.

On November 18, 2003, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Bangalore.

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Jeyalalitha – Background

Jayalalithaa was born on 24^th  February 1948, at Melukote, in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Mysore State (now Karnataka) to Jayaram and Vedavalli in an Iyengar family. Her grandfather was in the service of the Mysore kingdom as a surgeon, and the prefix ‘Jaya’ (‘the victorious’) was added to the names of various family members to reflect their association with Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar of Mysore. Her mother called her Komalavalli.^[4]

Jayalalithaa’s father died when she was two years old. Her mother then moved to Bangalore, where her parents lived, with Jayalalithaa. Her mother eventually began to work as an actress in Tamil cinema, based in Chennai, having taken the screen name of Sandhya. While still in Bangalore, Jayalalithaa attended Bishop Cotton Girls’ School. She completed her childhood education at Sacred Heart Matriculation School (popularly known as Church Park Presentation Convent or Presentation Church Park Convent) in Chennai. She excelled at school and was offered a government scholarship to pursue further education. She appears not to have accepted the admission offered to her at Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is fluent in several languages, including Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and English.

Source : Wikipedia

It is good that she did not learn Sinhala, if that has happened, she would have done more damages to Sri Lanka and its people. With  the fall of Jeyalalitha, the TNA ( Tamil National Alliance) is confused and do not know what to do next.

Tamil Nadu Situation

The next step involves finding a replacement for Jayalalithaa even as the names of her cabinet colleagues O Panneerselvam (Finance), Natham Viswanathan (Electricity) and V Senthil Balaji (Transport) and former Chief Secretary and Consultant to state government Sheela Balakrishnan are doing the rounds for the post. Most probably, Mr Pannershelvam will be appointed as the next chief minister of tamil nadu until the end of the present term.Although Mr Panneerschelvam take over the post , he will not be active as Jeyalalitha, because of the corruption charges. Mr Pannerchelvam will also be feared of possible dissolve of the Tamil Nadu state administration by the central government at any time citing the troublesome situation in the state. If that happens , then the administration will come under the state governor who is a BJP ally.So, Panneer will handle the situation in a more soft manner without disturbing the present structure. That also will be beneficial to Lankan Tamils.

The question remains that JJ has earned 66.6 crore , but her fine is 100 crore. How is she going to repay this fine where as she has to pay around 34.4 crore even after disposing her assets.

The following is the excerpt of the interview with Dr Subramanium Swamy on this matter.The Chairman of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Hudson Samarasinghe conducted the interview with Mr Subramanium Swamy over the phone.

Q: Dr Subramanium Swamy , What happened to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyalalitha Jeyaram ?

A : Well , she is popularly called as JJ , and now it stands, Jeyalalitha in Jail.She has been making money in different ways for a long time. She began this process in 1991.At that time I was the cabinet minister.Late Indian PM Rajiv Ghandi was our ally. Mr Chandrasekar was our prime minister then.We have defeated the DMK government for supporting LTTE.So the state government came under central administration. We have to hold election in the state.We was searching for JJ. She was hiding at some other place wearing burka. We brought her to Tamil Nadu , then she contested. At that time we smashed all LTTE infrastructures. As a result, LTTE went underground. She became the chief minister.When she became the chief minister, she was un grateful to the people who brought her up. Then she started looking for money. First victim for JJ’s greed was young IAS officer called “Mileka”.JJ was selling state properties. JJ was involved in a throwing acid incident.  I, Dr Subramanium Swamy , looking at this, I started to raising questions on her corruptions.She used her force to attack on me for 4 years.At that time , then prime minister Narasimma Roa provided me maximum security to save me from JJs vicious attack.She inflicted  enormous damages to properties. At the end she became unpopular  and lost the next election.

Q : Then what happened ?

A : After losing the election, she came to my house. She humbly requested me to forget about the past and requested me to fight against Karunanithi.We also helped her to revive. On that basis, she also was able to win the election.That time ATAL BIHARI VAJPAY became the prime minister.That time, I was not in BJP, I was the leader of Janata Party. Eventhough , I filed the case against JJ on asset disproportion grounds.

Q : What did JJ do ?

A :  JJ blocked all avenues of this case, but I thought she will have to face the truth and fate on one particular day.I am happy that after 18 years, that has happened.

Q: Sir , what could be the next step ?

A : Governor will make a formal request from AIDMK toappoint a new chief minister.

Q: Suppose if Tamil Nadu state continues to show vulnerable due to this shake up, what could be the next move of the central government?

A: If the violent culture continues, central government may dissolve the state administration and bring the state administration under governor’s rule until the ruling duration expires. Then the central government may go for fresh elections.

“So people should keep one thing in mind. You may cheat people, but not for long. The punishment will there waiting for you every time you do a crime. Punishment may delay, but any how it will happen one day.”

Written By : J.Yogaraj – Senior Journalist ( Announcer – S L B C )