TN Govt orders seizure of Jaya's properties

The Tamil Nadu government has embarked on a secret mission to confiscate properties of the late chief minister Jayalalithaa in connection with the disproportionate assets (DA) case.

The government sent orders to collectors of various districts, including Chennai, to take control of more than 60 properties registered to several firms owned by the convicts - Sasikala, J Elavarasi and V N Sudhakaran. The Supreme Court abated proceedings against Jayalalithaa after her death.

Sasikala, her sister-in-law Elavarasi and nephew Sudhakaran are serving the jail term in the DA case, in which they were convicted by a trial court in Karnataka. In February, the Supreme Court upheld the 2014 trial court verdict. 

"Instructions were given to the collectors by Directorate of Vigilance and



Anti-Corruption (DVAC) wing to take physical possession of more than 60 properties registered to various companies owned by them (Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, Elavarasi and Sudhakaran)," a senior police officer said.

Though the DVAC - the nodal agency in the case - had attached 120 properties, the authorities are planning to confiscate properties as per the court direction. The Supreme Court has ordered the seizure of Jayalalithaa's properties since the trial court had imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on her. The co-accused have been handed Rs 10 crore fine each.

However, DVAC sources said Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence has been excluded from the list. The late chief minister bought the property, 'Veda Nilayam', for Rs 1.37 lakh in 1967. It is currently estimated to be worth Rs 44 crore.