DA case: Karnataka HC acquits Jayalalithaa

AIADMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa scored a sensational legal victory on Monday, as the Karnataka high court acquitted her of all corruption charges in the 19 year old Rs 66.65-crore disproportionate assets case that had been hanging like an albatross around her neck for nearly two decades.

Justice C R Kumaraswamy overturned the September 27, 2014 verdict of a special court in Bengaluru. The judge also acquitted her associates - Sasikala Natarajan, her niece Ilavarasi, her nephew and the chief minister's disowned foster son Sudhakaran.

When the judge read out the word 'acquitted,' AIADMK lawyers rose in unison and greeted him with folded hands. They trooped out of court halls shouting "Amma Vaazgha...Amma Vaazgha"

Live: Jayalalithaa, others acquited in disproportionate assets case

Bengaluru special judge John Michael Cunha had sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in jail and fined Rs 100 crore on September 27, 2014. She was convicted in the disproportionate assets case that was launched by Subramanian Swamy on 20 August 1996.

The special court had sentenced Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran to four years in jail and fined Rs 10 crores each.

The judgement by the special court had disqualified her from the post of CM and legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu.

Now, her acquittal by the Karnataka high court means she can assume the chief minister's post. Jayalalithaa is expected to address the press on Monday.

O Paneerselvam, who assumed the post of the chief minister after Jayalalithaa was convicted in the case, called on her at her residence immediately after high court acquitted her.