SC extends Jaya’s bail by 4 months

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 18

The Supreme Court today extended by four months the bail granted to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, sentenced to four years in a corruption case by a Bengaluru trial court on September 27.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu also set a three-month deadline for the Karnataka High Court to complete the hearings on Jayalalithaa’s appeal and deliver its verdict. The AIADMK chief filed her appeal in the HC on December 8.

The 66-year-old former CM has been convicted for possession of assets worth about Rs 67 crore, which was disproportionate to her declared income. The trial court also slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore on her, going by the present market value of her assets.

The SC had granted bail to her on October 17 on the condition that she should file her appeal within two months and cooperate in the expeditious disposal of the case. Today, the apex court asked the HC to hold hearings in the case on a day-to-day basis.