Sasikala on a ‘vow of silence’ in prison

Sasikala is on a “vow of silence” in the central prison here since the death anniversary of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on December 5, the deposed AIADMK leader’s nephew T T V Dhinakaran said on Thursday.

Sasikala is serving a four year jail term in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case after the Supreme Court convicted her and two others in February this year, reports PTI.

“She is on a mauna viratham (vow of silence) since Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) death anniversary (on December 5),” Dhinakaran told reporters after meeting his aunt in the Parappana Agrahara Prison here.

Sasikala, a close confidante of Jayalalithaa, was expected to continue her silent vow till January end, Dhinakaran said without elaborating.

Sasikala’s appointment as interim general secretary following Jayalalithaa’s death has been annulled by the AIADMK general council in September last after the merger of factions led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his now deputy O Panneerselvam.

The meet also held as invalid all her decisions, including appointment of Dhinakaran as the deputy general secretary.

Dhinakaran said Sasikala listened to what he told her about the future course of action on party matters.

This was his first visit to the prison to meet Sasikala after winning the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll, held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting MLA Jayalalithaa, who passed away on December 5, 2016.

On the one-man inquiry commission probing the death of Jayalalithaa summoning Sasikala, he said his aunt had been asked to submit whatever evidence she had in this connection within 15 days and she had not been asked to appear in person.

“It (evidence) can be given through lawyer also,” he added.