On 22nd January (Monday), a special CBI court in Bengaluru ordered that the gold and diamond jewellery belonging to the late former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa should be transferred to the Tamil Nadu state government for legal action.
The Court refused a prayer to auction jewellery worth crores seized from the late CM in connection with the disproportionate assets case. Her jewellery is currently in the court’s custody and kept in treasury.
The ornaments had occupied the centre stage after J Deepa, kin of the late CM, moved the court arguing that she is entitled to properties that were confiscated by the state. However, the court had earlier held that the family of Jayalalithaa was not entitled to the properties which are confiscated. Thus, the Special CBI Court had rejected the petition filed by J Deepa and J Deepak, the niece and nephew of Jayalalithaa, respectively.
Regarding the recent order, Special Court Judge H A Mohan said, “I am of the opinion that instead of auctioning the jewels, it is better to transfer the same to Tamil Nadu by handing over the same through the department of home, state of Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, they are directed to appoint and authorise the competent persons preferably in the rank of secretary along with police to come and collect the jewels.”
Further, the court also ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay ₹5 crore as compensation to Karnataka for conducting the disproportionate assets case against former TN Chief Minister (CM) late J Jayalalithaa. As per Judge Mohan’s order, the payment has to be made by way of a demand draft (DD).
The Court issued the above order while hearing a plea filed by RTI activist T Narasimha Murthy, who sought compensation for the amount spent by the Karnataka government in the disproportionate assets case, through the auction of items seized from J Jayalalithaa.
On 27th September 2014, a special court in Bengaluru had sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in jail. It also fined her ₹100 crore in connection with a disproportionate assets case. The court had also directed that her seized valuables should be sold to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or State Bank of India (SBI) through public auction.
The court directed that the proceeds should be adjusted to the fine amount, prompting the plea by Murthy before the special court.
Under the direction of the Supreme Court, the trial was conducted by the Special Court in Bengaluru. The court heard the disproportionate assets trial against Jayalalithaa, her former close aide V Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran, who is the disowned foster son of Jayalalithaa, and Sasikala’s sister-in-law J Ilavarasi.