Disproportionate assets case: Here's what you need to know about the convicts

Jaya’s close aide for over 33 years, a history that she repeatedly parades, Sasikala was the co-accused in the cases the AIADMK chief faced.

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala. | Express File Photo

CHENNAI: Here's what you need to know about the four convicted in the disproportionate assets case

J Jayalalithaa

The late chief minister of Tamil Nadu was the prime accused in the disproportionate assets (DA) case. Jayalalithaa was accused of amassing Rs. 66 crore, which was disproportionate to her known sources of income. The case went through several twists and turns, before the special judge of the trial court in Bengaluru, Michael D'Cunha found all of them guilty in September 2014. Jaya, then the chief minister, was awarded four years' imprisonment and a whopping Rs 100 crore fine. Jaya had to resign while she spent time at the prison in Bengaluru before she was released after the Karnataka High Court overturned it.

VK Sasikala

Jaya’s close aide for over 33 years – a history that she repeatedly parades – Sasikala was the co-accused in the cases the AIADMK chief faced. In fact, a large number of Jayalalithaa supporters believe, it is Sasikala, her husband M Natarajan, brother VK Divakaran, sister-in-law J Ilavarasi, nephew VN Sudhakaran and others who misguided the former AIADMK supremo.

After Jayalalithaa's death, the party's general council unanimously appointed Sasikala as general secretary succeeding Jaya – this is now challenged by the rebels, pointing out that the party constitution mandates that the chief should be chosen directly by all the cadre – now 1.5 crore of them – and not by any representative body like the general council.

Sasikala also wanted to succeed Jaya as chief minister, an endeavour in which she almost succeeded – till Panneerselvam rebelled last Tuesday. Exactly a week later, the Supreme Court has ended her ambition with the verdict that rules out any electoral roles for her for the next 10 years.

VN Sudhakaran

The controversial nephew was in the limelight for a few years when Jaya adopted him as her foster son, and conducted the now-infamous Rs 100 crore marriage. The extravagant wedding, accentuated by the garish images of the family dripping with gold and silk, made Jayalalithaa the object of public anger and scrutiny. Shortly after that, Jayalalithaa disowned him. He even faced a heroin case, one of the dreaded weapons used against enemies.

J Ilavarasi

Sasikala's sister-in-law, Ilavarasi had a special place at Veda Nilayam, Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence. Her husband Jayaraman died of electrocution in Jayalalithaa’s farmland in Hyderabad. Since then, Ilavarasi and her two children have been living at Jaya’s home. Over the years, she reportedly grew quite influential due to her proximity to the former AIADMK chief.