Jayalalithaa’s confidant, V.K. Sasikala, who has been lodged in the Parappana Agrahara central jail since February 2017, is expected to be released on the grounds of good conduct in the last week of September or in the first week of October.
She was awarded a four years sentence by a special court in a disproportionate assets case. Her lawyers are now hopeful of her early release. S
peaking to The Daily Guardian, Sasikala’s lawyer Raja Senthoor Pandian, said as per the rules of the Karnataka Prison manual, any prisoner is eligible for reduction of 3 days a month on the grounds of good conduct for ordinary remission category.
“Sasikala has already spent 43 months in prison and has also spent another 35 days during 2007 and 2014 detention. Even after considering her parole period, she will get 129 for remission on good conduct ground. So, we hope she will be released in September 2020 instead of 2021” said Senthoor Pandian.
Incidentally, this week the IT Benami Prohibition unit attached more than 65 properties related to Sasikala which includes property in Poes Garden right opposite the former chief minister Jayalalithaa’s residence.
Construction works are underway in that property to house Sasikala on her return. Her advocate argues that the decision of the IT department to attach the Poes Garden property will be challenged as that property belongs to Hari Chandana Estates in which Sasikala is just another partner.
Political analysts say Sasikala’s early release will be significant as the state goes to elections in the next 7 months and there could be chances of her loyalists in AIADMK extending their allegiance to her if Sasikala chooses to be active politically after her return.