Fans celebrate bail for Jayalalitha

Hundreds of fans of former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha, convicted in a disproportionate assets case, swarmed the Bangalore Central Prisons at Parappana Agrahara after the Supreme Court granted her conditional bail on Friday

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Several AIADMK workers had gathered near the prison at around 10 am as they were confident the apex court could grant her bail.

They started celebrations once the news of Jayalalitha getting bail was flashed. They raised slogans in her favour and some even exuded hope she would again become the chief minister. They burst firecrackers and distributed sweets.

Saravana, who had tonsured his head, said: “I had taken an oath to tonsure my head the day our leader gets bail. So, I went to a saloon, got my head shaved, went to the nearby Palaniyappa temple and offered prayers. Our leader will overcome all challenges.”

Many other party workers expressed similar views.

A large number of AIADMK party leaders, MLAs and a couple of ministers arrived. The traffic movement was affected as most of them reached the area in several SUVs.

However, celebrations were shortlived as formalities could not be completed on Friday and Jayalalitha had to spend one more night inside the prison.

They returned with heavy hearts, while a majority of them chose to stay back in the City as she is likely to come out of the prison on Saturday after 12 noon. The police tightened security after they received the information that Jayalalitha obtained conditional bail. 

City Police Commissioner M N Reddi imposed prohibitory orders invoking Section 144 of CrPC. The police immediately deployed additional forces. They ensured massive security in and around Parappana Agrahara area as 2,500 men were pressed into service.

A Joint Commissioner of Police, five DCPs and 10 ACPs monitored the security, said Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar. About 30 police inspectors and 15 platoons of KSRP and CAR were also deployed to ensure law and order situation, he added.

More than 100 policemen were put on guard on the Old Airport Road assuming that Jayalalitha would be flying back home from HAL Airport, a top police source said.