Sasikala to be released from prison on January 27; lawyer says early release being sought

Former Jayalalithaa aide VK Sasikala is all set to be released from Parappana Aghrahara prison in Bengaluru on January 27, her lawyers informed. Having served jail sentence for a little over three years, VK Sasikala is all set to return to Tamil Nadu right before polls begin. Sasikala's lawyer Raja Senthurapandian, however, maintained that attempts were still being made to get an earlier release date for his client.

Earlier in December 2020, VK Saskikala's application seeking remission was rejected by jail authorities, ruling out possibility of an early release for former Jayalalithaa aide. Sasikala, who has been lodged at Parappana Aghrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru, had applied for early release after she deposited Rs 10 crore fine at a special court. Sasikala's lawyers had earlier claimed that ex-Jaya aide had t availed 129 remission leaves and that she was expecting an early release on grounds of 'good conduct' inside prison. 

READ | TN CM Palaniswami Claims VK Sasikala's Return From Prison Won't Change Things For AIADMK

Sasikala and Disproportionate Assets case

Sasikala has been lodged in jail since February 2017 when Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a special court in Bengaluru in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced her to four years imprisonment. Sasikala, who took over reins of AIADMK after death of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, was later removed from party by n-Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led camp. Her relatives Ilavarasi and V N Sudhakaran are also serving a four-year jail term in case.

READ | Sasikala To Be Released From Jail In Jan 2021 If Fine Paid: Bengaluru Prison's RTI Reply

Sasikala and Jayalalithaa

Meanwhile, Sasikala has also been probed into her alleged involvement in former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death. Arumugasamy commission had written to Karnataka Prisons Department and Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu government to seek permission to question Sasikala. commission which has already questioned 130 people, recorded Sasikala's statement in person.

READ | Sasikala Family Will Have Place In AIADMK, Govt: Tamil Nadu Minister

Sasikala to return right before TN polls

Sasikala's return is expected to intensify politics down south with Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2021. tenure of 234-seats assembly is due to end in May 2021. Despite reports of Sasikala's release, AIADMK joint coordinator and Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami has maintained that her release will t impact party. When asked if Sasikala's return would hamper AIADMK's chances in upcoming polls, TN CM Edappadi Palaniswami told media that her release will have 'zero impact' on party and categorically stated that changes would happen after her release. Sorting out differences between two factions within party, AIADMK affirmed that it would project E Palaniswami as CM for 2021 elections as well. 

READ | Jolt For Sasikala As Prison Authorities Reject Ex-Jayalalithaa Aide's Remission Request