Many in Karnataka Congress are puzzled at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s inordinate delay in filing an appeal in the apex court against AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa’s verdict. In fact, the corridors of power in Bengaluru are abuzz with the Chief Minister’s reluctance in taking a decision even as the Special Public Prosecutor BV Acharya made it public that the verdict deserves an appeal in the Supreme Court.
Acharya had given a report in this regard to the Government and Karnataka law Minister TB Jayachandra was in Delhi for consultation with the party High Command which has so far not given a go ahead for an appeal against the verdict.
In another development, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh has said it cannot be a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction and should be analysed from all angles before taking a decision.
“Appealing cannot be knee-jerk, not appealing (also) cannot be knee-jerk. It is the responsibility of the State Government to analyse it from all angles,” he said.
Rubbishing reports that the Congress Government in Karnataka was delaying filing an appeal in the case, he said, “The Karnataka Government has been given three months. Three months mathematically is 90 days. At the end of 11 days, you are saying that the Karnataka Government is dragging its feet. It is an unfair statement.”
“These are very serious issues. It (the judgement) has to be studied, it has to be analysed. There are reports of inconsistencies, errors (in the judgement). Ultimately the best legal call will be taken. I think when a State Government decides to appeal or not to appeal, that must be backed by the best legal advice they get,” Jairam said.
Jayalalithaa was disqualified following her conviction in the Rs66.66 crore disproportionate assets case by a trial court in Bengaluru on September 27 last year. The Karnataka High Court had subsequently acquitted her of the charges on May 11.
On May 18, the Karnataka Government had indicated it would take “some more days” to decide on filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against acquittal of Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case.
The State Cabinet which met on Thursday did not take any decision as anticipated on the issue but Congress sources indicated that the High Command has so far not given go-ahead to the Chief Minister.
A close aide of the Chief Minister said the High Command was looking at the political impact and might look at a deal with Jayalalithaa who is going to take the oath of office as CM for the fifth time on Friday. He said, “The Chief Minister has no say in this regard. Even though both SPP and AG (advocate general) has submitted their report to the State favouring an appeal, the High Command has so far not given any decision in this regard. We may have to wait.”