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Supreme Court grants bail to Jayalalithaa, asks her not to delay appeal

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Three weeks after being jailed, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today today got a major relief when the Supreme Court today granted her conditional bail making it clear that her appeal against conviction in High Court should be completed in five months from now.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu suspended the sentence of four years simple imprisonment given by the trial court in Bangalore in an illegal assets case and warned her against causing any delay by seeking adjournment in her appeal in Karnataka High Court.

The Supreme Court relief triggered wild celebrations among AIADMK workers in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu and Bangalore where she is held in a jail since Sept 27 following her conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

AIADMK, who had gathered in a sombre atmosphere for the 43rd foundation day ceremony at the party headquarters, burst crackers, danced on the sweets and distributed sweets to welcome the bail order.

Indications are that Jayalalithaa will be out only tomorrow after completion of formalities like executing a bond with two solvent securities to the satisfaction of the trial court. Complying with the Supreme Court directive, the AIADMK supremo asked her party cadre to maintain law and order and not to comment on order, judges and court proceedings.

Earlier, the High Court had refused bail to Jayalalithaa, her close aide Sasikala and two of her relatives, who were also given bail today.

The bench directed Jayalalithaa to file before it the paperbook (the appeal and all other relevant papers) to be filed in the high court within the next two months.

"If the paperbook is not filed within two months, then we won't give you even a single day more," the bench said.

The bench, thereafter, asked Jayalalithaa to direct her party workers not to create such problems and said that it will take serious objection if it comes to know that the disturbances are caused by political workers on her instruction.

Jayalalithaa, who had moved the Supreme Court for bail on October 9, had submitted that she had been sentenced to only four years jail in the case and she was also suffering from various ailments as grounds for her immediate relief.

The former Chief Minister had also cited grounds of being senior citizen and woman for getting out of jail. The 66-year-old politician was denied bail by the High Court on October 7 despite the Special Public Prosecutor not objecting to grant of conditional bail to her.

The Special Court had held Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of corruption. The court had also slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore on the AIADMK chief and Rs 10 crore fine on each of the three other convicts.

Jayalalithaa is expected to step out of the prison here tomorrow after completion of formalities. "Jayalalithaa will be released, but tomorrow because we have yet to complete formalities for her release from the prison," her counsel B Kumar told PTI.

He said they would tomorrow approach the Special Court to furnish surety for her release after receiving copy of the Supreme Court order. "We will get the Supreme Court order copy by today evening. Tomorrow, we will approach the special court and furnish surety to secure my client's (Jayalalithaa) release," he said.

DIG Prisons P M Jaisimha said the release will happen "definitely tomorrow." He had earlier said formalities would be completed today.

He said he had met Jayalalithaa last night only to enquire about her health, not talk about her bail. He said Jayalalithaa's health condition is fine. "She told me she is fine, health-wise and not having any problems."

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