AIADMK's jailed general secretary VK Sasikala, and two other accused, will have to serve the full four-year sentence awarded to them in the disproportionate assets case. The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed their review petitions challenging the sentence and conviction ordered by the apex court on February 14, 2017.
A Bench of Justices SA Bobde and Amitava Roy which decided on the petitions sitting in chamber, said, "We do not find any error in the common judgment impugned, much less an apparent error on the face of the record so as to call for its review. The Review Petitions are accordingly dismissed." Along with Sasikala, the other accused namely J Elavarasi (widow of Sasikala's elder brother) and VN Sudhakaran (foster son of former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa), had also appealed against the SC order. Jayalalithaa was the main accused in this case relating to amassing disproportionate assets worth Rs 66.65 crore. But proceedings against her were abated by the apex court following her death.
On Tuesday, senior advocate and former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before the Bench headed by Justice Bobde and handed over written submissions and propositions of law requesting for an open court hearing.
The Bench took the papers and considered it in chamber turning down the request for an open court hearing.
Sasikala had been in prison in 1996 when the case was registered. In 2014, the special trial court convicted and awarded her a four-year sentence with a fine of Rs 10 crore. Jayalalithaa too was sentenced for similar term. However, the Karnataka HC acquitted all accused persons. This order was set aside by the apex court.