Putting an end to all speculations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government in Karnataka has finally decided to appeal against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s verdict in the Apex Court. State law Minister TB Jayachandra told the media after the Cabinet meeting in Bengaluru on Monday that the State has decided to appeal against the verdict on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Supreme Court.
He said, “The Chief Minister has directed me to file an appeal in the Supreme Court immediately. BV Acharya will be the SPP in the case in the apex court”.
The decision to challenge the May 11 verdict by Justice CR Kumaraswamy of the Karnataka High Court was taken at a Cabinet meeting after consulting with the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case BV Acharya, and State Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar as well as the law ministry. The law Minister said the SPP was appointed on the direction of the Supreme Court, and had advised filing the appeal against the acquittal of Jayalalithaa, with both the AG and law secretary agreeing.
“....And now the Cabinet has decided to file the appeal,” he said, adding, it was being done “legally on merit”.
Jayachandra said the Supreme Court had specifically said that Karnataka had stepped into the shoes of Tamil Nadu, and that it was the sole prosecuting agency for all matters related to the disproportionate assets case.