Jayalalithaa Released From Bangalore Prison

BANGALORE: A day after the Supreme Court granted her conditional bail in an 18-year-old disproportionate asset case, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was released from the jail here on Sunday.

Jayalalithaa walked out of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison shortly after the special court issued the order for release of the AIADMK supremo in accordance with the top court order.

Jayalalithaa will leave for Chennai in a charter plane.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam, a few cabinet ministers and the ruling AIADMK's lawmakers were at the prison to receive her.

Huge crowds including party workers and supporters had also thronged outside the jail to greet their leader.

The AIADMK Supremo has been in prison for three weeks after a special court here found her guilty in the Rs 66.65 crore assets case and sentenced her to four years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100 crore on September 27.

The release order by Special Judge John Michael D'Cunha came after a bond for Rs two crore was furnished and surety of assets offered. Copy of the Supreme Court order was also produced before the court by Jayalalithaa's lawyers.   

A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu had on Friday stayed the four-year jail term sentence while granting conditional bail.

Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala and her relatives Sudhakaran and Elavarasi also fufilled similar conditions.

Jayalalithaa moved the Supreme Court after the Karnataka High Court rejected her bail plea.

Hundreds of policeman, including city armed reserve, were posted in and around the prison, with authorities clamping prohibitory orders anticipating huge flow of AIADMK supporters.

At the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border point on Hosur also, police and city armed reserve kept a close vigil and regulated movement of vehicles from the neighbouring state into the

city. The jail is located about 20 kms from the Hosur point.

Groups of AIADMK supporters had gathered at Hosur entry point chanting slogans hailing their leader.

(With inputs from agencies)