Sasikala to be released soon: ADMK
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s confidant VK Sasikala could soon be out of jail, sources in the ruling Anna DMK party said on Thursday, ater she deposited Rs100 million as a fine which was imposed on her by the court in the disproportionate assets case in which she was sentenced along with her boss. Amid speculations that her arrival would impact the ADMK, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said it will have no impact at all.
“The release of Sasikala from Bengaluru prison will not change the AIADMK’S decision to keep her and her relatives away from the party and government affairs,” he told the media.
“As far as we are concerned, there will be no change,” he said.
On Wednesday, Sasikala’s counsel said the fine was deposited at a court in Bengaluru through demand drats.
Failure to pay the fine would have extended her 4-year jail term, which is due to end on Jan.27 next year.
Bengaluru Central Prison’s Public Information Officers had released a statement that Sasikala is expected to come out of the jail on Jan.27, 2021, once she pays the entire fine amount of Rs100 million.
“Convict Sasikala’s probable date of release is 27-01-2021 provided in-default fine is paid. A probable date would be 27-02-2022 if fine not paid.” Meanwhile late chief minister and DMK leader M Karunanidhi’s elder son MK Alagiri, who was expelled by his father five years ago, is trying to cause ripples in the party which his younger brother MK Stalin leads.
He had announced he will form a new party, but on Thursday the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extended him an invitation at a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to arrive in the city on Saturday.
BJP state unit president L Murugan said his party was ready to welcome Alagiri if he wanted to join the BJP.
“I did not receive any official communication. I haven’t spoken with him. We are open. If he comes and if he wants to join our party, we are ready to welcome him,” Murugan said.
There have been reports that Alagiri would meet Amit Shah. But the Madurai-based leader said no one from the BJP had spoken to him. On his own plans, Alagiri said, “I have made no such decision yet. What is the hurry? Let’s wait and see what is happening. One thing I am sure of is that the DMK will certainly split soon ater the Assembly polls. There is way too much infighting and lack of leadership.”